Underlying - English meaning

adjective

Forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base.

Usage examples:

Basal epidermal cells

adjective

Forming the bottom layer of something

Usage examples:

Cells in the basal layer of skin

adjective

Forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Certain basic rules must be obeyed

noun

The essential facts or principles of a subject or skill.

Usage examples:

I learnt the basics of programming on a course

noun

A simple high-level computer programming language that uses familiar english words, designed for beginners and formerly used widely.

Usage examples:

You could write your own software in the basic programming language

noun

A leading dignitary of the roman catholic church. cardinals are nominated by the pope, and form the sacred college which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number).

Usage examples:

His appointment as cardinal

adjective

Of the greatest importance; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Two cardinal points must be borne in mind

noun

A priest of high rank in the roman catholic church

Usage examples:

Finding food was a cardinal concern.

adjective

At the point or in the area that is in the middle of something.

Usage examples:

The station has a central courtyard

noun

A place with a high concentration of a specified type of person or thing.

Usage examples:

You're in workaholic central here

adjective

In, at, from, or near the center

Usage examples:

He grew up in central illinois., american novels often take money as their central concern., a cent…

noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Usage examples:

The chief of the village

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

The chief reason for the spending cuts

adjective

Most important

Usage examples:

Their chief objection to the appointment was that she had no judicial experience., the chief econom…

adjective

Forming an essential or typical feature; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Failure is always apparent at this elemental level

noun

A supernatural entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means.

Usage examples:

Gods and elementals looked out upon the worshippers

adjective

Basic or simple but strongly felt

Usage examples:

Elemental needs/desires

adjective

Relating to the basic elements of a subject.

Usage examples:

An elementary astronomy course

adjective

Simple or easy; basic

Usage examples:

I’m taking a course in elementary russian., the elementary charge (= the electrical charge in the n…

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Extremely important or necessary

Usage examples:

A knowledge of spanish is essential for this job., there is an essential difference between the two…

Preceding all others in time or space or degree

ordinal number

Coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.

Usage examples:

His first wife

ordinal number

Foremost in position, rank, or importance.

Usage examples:

The doctor's first duty is to respect this right

adjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.

Usage examples:

The protection of fundamental human rights

noun

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.

Usage examples:

Two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology

adjective

Being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend

Usage examples:

Fundamental beliefs/principles, we need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environ…

adjective

Belonging naturally; essential.

Usage examples:

Access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life

adjective

Basic to a thing, being an important part of making it what it is

Usage examples:

Each human being has intrinsic dignity and worth.

adjective

Being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing

Usage examples:

Intrinsic to sth design is intrinsic to every product., an intrinsic part/element of sth stay-at-ho…

noun

A small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it.

Usage examples:

There were two keys to the cupboard

adjective

Of crucial importance.

Usage examples:

She became a key figure in the suffragette movement

verb

Enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer keyboard or telephone keypad.

Usage examples:

Not everyone can key data quickly and accurately

adjective

Of chief importance; principal.

Usage examples:

The government's primary aim is to see significant reductions in unemployment

noun

(in the us) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Usage examples:

These two republicans should win their primaries easily

verb

Former term for palaeozoic.

adjective

Of first importance; main.

Usage examples:

A nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient

noun

The state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.

Usage examples:

You're in the prime of life

verb

Make (something) ready for use or action.

Usage examples:

He grabbed a gun from a nearby wall and primed it

adjective

First in order of importance; main.

Usage examples:

The country's principal cities

noun

The most important or senior person in an organization or group.

Usage examples:

A design consultancy whose principal is based in san francisco

adjective

First in order of importance

Usage examples:

Iraq’s principal export is oil.

noun

The part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibres.

Usage examples:

Cacti have deep and spreading roots

verb

Cause (a plant or cutting) to grow roots.

Usage examples:

Root your own cuttings from stock plants

noun

An act of rooting.

Usage examples:

I had a root through the open drawers

adjective

Involving or limited to basic principles.

Usage examples:

He received a rudimentary education

adjective

Only basic, and not deep or detailed

Usage examples:

She has only a rudimentary grasp of the language.