1
a
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
b
: arising from the base of a stem
basal leaves
2
a
: of or relating to the foundation, base, or essence : fundamental
b
: of, relating to, or being essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism : minimal
a basal diet
c
: used for teaching beginners
basal readers
basally
adverb
Examples of basal in a Sentence
many students lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic
Recent Examples on the Web
Prune these back almost to the ground as basal growth appears.
—
Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
What surprised the researchers was that whenever a bird practiced, dopamine levels in the basal ganglia increased.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Connections made via apical synapses seemed to be strengthened by movement information more than those made via basal synapses.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025
At that point, rather than consulting someone who obsesses over how caffeine focuses us by blocking adenosine receptors in the basal forebrain, philosophers should hold sway.
—Jessica Riskin, The New York Review of Books, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basal
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Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
What surprised the researchers was that whenever a bird practiced, dopamine levels in the basal ganglia increased.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Connections made via apical synapses seemed to be strengthened by movement information more than those made via basal synapses.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025
At that point, rather than consulting someone who obsesses over how caffeine focuses us by blocking adenosine receptors in the basal forebrain, philosophers should hold sway.
—Jessica Riskin, The New York Review of Books, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basal
Cite this Entry
“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basal. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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Medical Definition
1
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
2
: of, relating to, or essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism (as respiration, heartbeat, or excretion)
a basal diet
see basal metabolism
3
: serving as or serving to induce an initial comatose or unconscious state that forms a basis for further anesthetization
basal narcosis
a basal anesthetic
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