Underlying cause/reason/factor etc A cause, reason etc that is one of the most basic and important, but which is not easy to
notice
They were treating only the symptoms of the disease rather than its underlying cause.
Climate and geography are the underlying reasons for the region's low level of economic
development.
5. to cause someone or something to be in a particular situation or condition To cause someone or something to be in a particular situation or condition Make somebody late/ill etc Hurry up - you're going to make me late for work.
Something I ate last night really made me sick.
Make something safe/interesting/dirty etc He could make things very difficult for us.
Engineers have been working throughout the night to make the bridge safe.
We gave the house a coat of paint to make it more attractive.
Make it easy/impossible/necessary etc (for somebody) to do something The regulations should make it easier for patients to receive the treatment they need.
The increased costs made it impossible to continue producing the computers in the U.S.
Have something ready/organized/prepared etc We'll have your car ready by 3 o'clock.
I'm going to have the roof fixed as soon as I can afford it.
My parents had the little train all laid out under the tree on Christmas morning.
Render something useless/impossible/harmless etc Both runways have been rendered useless by enemy bombings.
The angry exchange rendered future compromise impossible.
Render somebody unconscious/helpless etc Suddenly Packer struck a blow that rendered his victim unconscious.
6. to be one of the causes of something Play a part Many cases of breast cancer have genetic causes, but environmental substances may also
play a part.
