basic

adjective

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ba·sic | \ ˈbā-sik also -zik

Definition of basic

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : of, relating to, or forming the base or essence : fundamental basic truths

b : concerned with fundamental scientific principles : not applied basic research

2 : constituting or serving as the basis or starting point a basic set of tools

3a : of, relating to, containing, or having the character of a chemical base

b : having an alkaline reaction

4 : containing relatively little silica basic rocks

5 : relating to, made by, used in, or being a process of making steel done in a furnace lined with basic material and under basic slag

basic

noun (1)

Definition of basic (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : something that is basic : fundamental get back to basics

2 : basic training

BASIC

noun (2)

BA·SIC | \ ˈbā-sik

Definition of BASIC (Entry 3 of 3)

computers : a simplified high-level language for programming a computer The program was written in BASIC.

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Examples of basic in a Sentence

Adjective In this class, you will learn the basic principles of chemistry. At its most basic level, the book is about a father's relationship with his children. The basic difference between the two companies is their size. rights that are basic to all human beings basic reading, writing, and mathematics She lacks even the most basic skills necessary for the job. That's just the basic salary without overtime or tips. The motel is comfortable but pretty basic: you get the necessities all right, but no luxuries. Noun (1) He's teaching me the basics of Japanese cooking. He starts basic in two months. Noun (2) The program is written in BASIC.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The longer the tissues were microwaved, the more basic cellular processes like DNA transcription—the first step in protein production—were compromised. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Scientists Pumped Ovarian Tissue Full of Sugar and Microwaved It. Here’s Why," 10 Dec. 2019 But the most beneficial teas for beyond your basic cup of English breakfast with sugar and milk. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "3 Healthy (and Delicious) Teas To Add to Your Diet," 7 Dec. 2019 Check out our exclusive tips and photos from Morgan’s Kenyan getaway to see why this safari was anything but basic. — Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, "Black Travel Vibes: Experience Kenya From A Different Point of View," 5 Dec. 2019 Such intimate observations will untangle basic conundrums in solar physics and could help us better predict harmful solar outbursts aimed at Earth. — National Geographic, "The sun keeps getting stranger, dive-bombing solar probe shows," 4 Dec. 2019 The streamlined tracker won’t display the time or exact step count, but instead uses a series of indicator lights to give you a basic overview of your daily activity. — Braelyn Wood, Health.com, "Tons of Cyber Monday Fitbit Deals Are Live Right Now," 2 Dec. 2019 Liberals accept that the business world operates according to the principles of property rights and free exchange, rather than the popular will, and that individuals possess basic rights that cannot be overruled by democratic diktat. — The Economist, "Jeremy Corbyn’s political agenda is more radical than his economic one," 30 Nov. 2019 Seeing other people and cultures—and being a foreigner in another culture—is really important because, outside of basic human rights, there's really no right or wrong way to live. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Megan Rapinoe: “Travel Gives Us a Greater Sense of Empathy”," 27 Nov. 2019 Here Labour is not only seeking to reverse some of the ravages of austerity but to fundamentally redefine what should be considered basic rights of citizenship in the 21st century. — Daniel Fitzpatrick, Quartz, "Labour’s manifesto could transform British politics—even if it doesn’t win the election," 26 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ava knows only the basics of that history, but alternate chapters bring those years to us in Josephine’s voice. — Ron Charles, Washington Post, "‘The Revisioners’ reminds us of slavery’s long reach, through the generations," 10 Dec. 2019 That was just the basics, the stuff any old astronaut can handle. — Wired, "How to Change the Tires on a Race Car—at Zero Gravity," 30 Nov. 2019 The basics: Cannabidiol—or CBD for short—is a non-intoxicating extract of the hemp plant. — Kate Bowers, Fortune, "As Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger Get Set to Stock CBD Beauty Products, Here’s What You Need to Know," 2 Oct. 2019 The film’s advertising has obscured almost every detail of the plot besides the absolute basics, a difficult achievement today. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Knives Out Is No Ordinary Murder Mystery," 27 Nov. 2019 In addition to the basics, such as doing a pelvic exam, listening to your heart, and checking your blood pressure, your doctor should be on the lookout for other conditions. — Louise Sloan, Health.com, "3 Types of Doctors Who Can Treat Your Low Sex Drive," 17 Nov. 2019 The all-neutral collection includes the basics every beauty-lover should have in their makeup bag: luminous powder, makeup brushes, and three different types of highlighter. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "Jaclyn Hill Announces Her First Product Launch After Being "Cancelled" Over Hairy Lipsticks," 15 Nov. 2019 Long before online learning and YouTube tutorials, this college kid coded rudimentary web pages using Notepad.exe and taught you the basics: chords, techniques, and even a fair bit of music theory. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "The Sites That Mean the Most to Us," 1 Nov. 2019 First, the basics: Seats one through three: Three incumbents and three newcomers are running. — Max Londberg, Cincinnati.com, "Election 2019: Who is running for Cincinnati school board and where do they stand on issues?," 29 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'basic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.