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underlying

4 syllables
Quick answer

As an adjective, underlying means lying underneath. As a noun, it means the entity from whose performance a derivative derives its value.

Meanings of underlying

7 meanings

adjective

  1. Lying underneath

    “We dug down to the underlying rock.”

  2. Basic or fundamental

    “Points and straight lines are underlying elements of geometry.”

  3. Implicit

    “Many nursery rhymes have an underlying meaning.”

  4. In the nature of something though not readily apparent

    “shortcomings inherent in our approach”

    “an underlying meaning”

    Similar: implicit in, inherent
  5. Located beneath or below

  6. Being or involving basic facts or principles

    “the fundamental laws of the universe”

    “a fundamental incompatibility between them”

    “these rudimentary truths”

    Similar: fundamental, rudimentary

noun

  1. financeThe entity from whose performance a derivative derives its value.

verb

Present participle of underlie

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

adjective: in the nature of something though not readily apparent
implicit ininherent
adjective: being or involving basic facts or principles

Words that rhyme with underlying

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