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Fundamental vs Underlie - What's the difference?

fundamental | underlie |

As a noun fundamental

is a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of linear algebra.

As an adjective fundamental

is pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation hence: essential, as an element, principle, or law; important; original; elementary.

As a verb underlie is

to lie in a position directly beneath.

fundamental

English

(Webster 1913)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of linear algebra.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation. Hence: Essential, as an element, principle, or law; important; original; elementary.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
    • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […].  Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […]  But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches.}}

    Derived terms

    * fundamentalism * fundamentalist * fundamentality * fundamentally * fundamentalness * fundamental analysis

    Related terms

    * fundament

    Synonyms

    * * See also

    External links

    * * ----

    underlie

    English

    Alternative forms

    * underly

    Verb

  • To lie in a position directly beneath.
    • A stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel.
  • To lie under or beneath.
  • To serve as a basis of; form the foundation of.
    • a doctrine underlying a theory
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Sarah Glaz
    • , title= Ode to Prime Numbers , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.}}
  • To be subject to; be liable to answer, as a charge or challenge.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • The knight of Ivanhoe underlies the challenge of Brian der Bois Guilbert.
  • (mining) To underlay.