Underlying cause
A2 · Study & Academic · A2 collocations
Meaning
The real or basic reason for something, which may not be obvious.
Example
Doctors are running tests to find the underlying cause of her headaches.
How to use it
Contrast with the 'immediate cause' (what directly triggers something). 'Root cause' and 'real cause' are also natural.
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- 30 collocations for IELTS Writing Task 2, grouped by the job they doThirty academic collocations for IELTS Writing Task 2, grouped by essay job: naming a problem, explaining causes, effects, solutions and evidence.
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Related collocations
- carry out researchto do detailed study in order to discover new facts or information
- conduct an experimentto organise and do a scientific test in order to find something out
- draw a conclusionto decide what is true after thinking carefully about the facts
- gather datato collect information from different sources for study or analysis
- analyze datato examine information carefully to find patterns or meaning
- empirical evidenceinformation based on observation or experiments rather than theory
- statistically significanttoo large or consistent to be explained by chance alone
- adverse effecta harmful or unwanted result