Underlie

Pronunciation

• Template:IPA
• Template:Audio

Verb

1. Template:Transitive If $x$ underlies $y$, $x$ causes $y$; $x$ is the reason for $y$.

   Poor education underlies much of the crime and violence in our society.

2. Template:Transitive If $x$ underlies $y$, $x$ is the basis for $y$ or the most important part of $y$.

   The basic principle underlying the argument is that we can know what each of the parts is.