From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishunderlyingun‧der‧ly‧ing /ˌʌndəˈlaɪ-ɪŋ◂ $ -ər-/ ●●○ AWL adjective → underlying cause/principle/problem etcCOLLOCATIONSnounsthe underlying cause/reasonStress is the underlying cause of many illnesses.an underlying assumptionThere is an underlying assumption that new technology is always a good thing.an underlying principleTheir actions, he argued, went against the underlying principles of Christian morality.an underlying problemLittle is being done to correct the system's underlying problems.an underlying themeDeath and rebirth are underlying themes in all of his novels.an underlying messageThe underlying message of his speech was that the economic good times are over.
Examples from the Corpus
underlying• They were treating only the symptoms of the disease rather than its underlying cause.• When treating any health problem, it's always important to consider the underlying causes.• an underlying concern• The underlying factor in almost all suicides is the feeling of hopelessness.• The musical instruments symbolize an underlying harmony behind nature's powers, to which the successful alchemist must himself be attuned.• Its underlying objective was to improve the man-made environment by testing a range of products.• In treating such a philosophical topic, the underlying principles should have been expanded on, rather than just being described.• Climate and geography are the underlying reasons for the region's low level of economic development.• To the anatomists, the search for order involved the detection of underlying relationships between the structures of different species.• Character, which is what geography is about, depends, at root, on the underlying rock.• Nevertheless, it is helpful to have some underlying semantics by which to judge the laws.• Life companies have until the end of 1991 to switch their unit trusts into the underlying shares without tax penalties.From Longman Business Dictionaryunderlyingun‧der‧ly‧ing /ˌʌndəˈlaɪ-ɪŋ◂-ər-/ adjective1underlying figure/rateECONOMICS a rate or figure that shows the real level of inflation, EARNINGS etc although it is not immediately obviousThe underlying rate of interest went up last month. → compare headline2underlying security/share etcFINANCE the investment to which a DERIVATIVE such as an OPTION (=the right to buy or sell particular shares etc during a particular period of time) relatesIf the warrant is held for its full 18-month life, the value of the underlying shares would have to rise at least 18.6% to make it profitable for holders. 