подосно́ва

nounfeminineinanimatecountablevery rarely used (#45384)

1.
underlying cause, real reason, background
Надо поня́ть экономи́ческую подосно́ву конфли́кта.
We need to understand the underlying economic cause of the conflict.
Usually of hidden motives or causes behind events.
2.
(rare) backing, underlay, lining
Холст накле́или на пло́тную подосно́ву.
The canvas was glued onto a firm backing.
Technical: the base layer under a surface.

Examples

Никто не понимал настоящую подоснову конфликта.
No one understood the real underlying cause of the conflict.
Экономическая подоснова кризиса стала ясна позже.
The economic basis of the crisis became clear later.
У этой истории есть скрытая подоснова.
There is a hidden underlying reality to this story.