transitive verbunderlies, underlying, underlay, underlain

• 1Be a significant cause or basis of (something) even if not necessarily manifest or obvious.

  ‘the fundamental issue that underlies the conflict’

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  • ‘the fear of loss underlay his extreme jealousy’

• 2(especially of a layer of rock or soil) lie or be situated under (something)

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  • ‘limestone underlies much of the site’