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underlying JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ/ · un.der.ly.ing
verb
  1. To lie in a position directly beneath. The pipe underlies the foundation of the building.
  2. To lie under or beneath. A stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel.
  3. To serve as a basis of; form the foundation of. A doctrine underlying a theory provides its core principles.
noun
  1. The entity from whose performance a derivative derives its value. The underlying asset of the stock option is the company's stock.
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.
Did you know? The word 'underlying' is often used in finance to describe the asset or entity that a derivative is based on, such as a stock or commodity.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 16, 2026