Dictionary
underlie
verb un·der·lie \-ˈlī\
: to lie or be located under (something)
: to form the basis or foundation of (an idea, a process, etc.)
un·der·lay\-ˈlā\un·der·lain\-ˈlān\un·der·ly·ing\-ˈlī-iŋ\
Full Definition of UNDERLIE
transitive verb
1
archaic : to be subject or amenable to
2
: to lie or be situated under
3
: to be at the basis of : form the foundation of : support <ideas underlying the revolution>
4
: to exist as a claim or security superior and prior to (another)
See underlie defined for English-language learners
See underlie defined for kids
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First Known Use of UNDERLIE
before 12th century
Rhymes with UNDERLIE
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
UNDERLIE Defined for Kids
underlie
verb un·der·lie \ˌən-dər-ˈlī\
un·der·lay \-ˈlā\un·der·lain \-ˈlān\un·der·ly·ing \-ˈlī-iŋ\
Definition of UNDERLIE for Kids
1
: to lie or be located under <A tile floor underlies the rug.>
2
: to form the foundation of : support <What ideals underlie democracy?>
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