Adjective

(-)

lying underneath

We dug down to the underlying rock.

basic or fundamental

Points and straight lines are underlying elements of geometry.

implicit

Many nursery rhymes have an underlying meaning.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Being essential or decisive for determining the outcome or future of something; extremely important.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2014-03-07, author= Nicole Vulser

, volume=190, issue=13, page=30, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Perfume manufacturers must cope with the scarcity of precious supplies , passage=The perfume industry is facing a major problem: maintaining constant levels of quality is crucial , but it is increasingly difficult to obtain a regular supply of all the necessary natural ingredients.}}

(label) Cruciform or cruciate; cross-shaped.

Term of approval, particularly when applied to reggae music.