basic

adjective

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.

Other Words from basic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about 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

Just basic, good pillows to lay your head on at night. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Joanna Gaines Swears by 5 Simple Things to Have the Coziest Bedroom Ever," 19 Jan. 2019 Walking in pace with an elderly person — nobility or not — are basic manners in almost every culture, noted the Times. — Meagan Fredette, refinery29.com, "Trump Ends Tumultuous U.K. Visit With A Breach In Royal Protocol," 14 July 2018 All have a basic weeping shape with small blooms that move up the stems. — Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, "The plants that will attract fall hummingbirds, butterflies," 13 July 2018 TimeÂ 0:00 / DurationÂ 1:25 How to buy a home in 10 basic steps Advertisement Need an easy guide to buy a house? — John Sowell, idahostatesman, "Just when you thought Idaho home prices couldn’t climb any higher, they do, by a lot," 12 July 2018 Despite the declining number of troops deployed in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, service members remain stationed in roughly 90 percent of the countries around the world, many in remote places without access to basic comfort items. — Staff Report, Aurora Beacon-News, "Arcada Theatre in St. Charles to show World Cup final on its big screen," 11 July 2018 Some basic data: 30 of the hikers had to leave the trail earlier than planned. — Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, "Here's What It Takes to Hike the John Muir Trail," 11 July 2018 Alexandra Occassio Cortez should be careful not to misstate basic facts. — Jennifer Wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why It's Impossible to Be a Likeable Female Politician," 11 Jan. 2019 While commodifying a basic human need seemed horrifying at first, the Dreamery is an experience that even one of the most skeptical of editors enjoyed. — Chavie Lieber, Vox, "A breakdown of this year’s brand winners and losers.," 27 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The basics are there on both sides—bows, axes, spears, and two-handed swords are the tools of choice. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "'Outlaw King' vs. 'Braveheart': Which Movie Gets Scotland Right?," 13 Nov. 2018 The Rise of the Skin-Care Diet About three years ago, dermatologists in Korea began advising people experiencing sensitivity and redness to step back from their extensive routines and cut down to the basics, according to Yoo. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "Why Koreans Are Ditching Their Famous 10-Step Routines for the Skin-Care Diet," 29 Sep. 2018 All the basics of browsing in Edge, Word, Spotify, Outlook for email, and so on, were fast enough for me. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "Microsoft Surface Go review: a little goes a long way," 7 Aug. 2018 Uniqlo is mostly known for basics, not sports attire. — Khadeeja Safdar, WSJ, "$300 Million for an Aging Tennis Star? Roger Federer Is Worth It, Uniqlo Says," 22 Aug. 2018 The initial allowance—$2 million—is for the basics, like removing debris, fixing the fraying roofs, and giving CPR to the generators, three of four of which are having problems. — Sarah Scoles, WIRED, "Puerto Rico's Observatory Is Still Recovering From Hurricane Maria," 15 June 2018 Thirty-five percent is divided equally between the six councilmanic districts for the nitty-gritty basics of neighborhood conservation, including streets, curbs, sidewalks, bridges and stormwater drainage. — Bill Turque, kansascity, "Tuesday's a big municipal election day — lots of taxes, not enough candidates | The Kansas City Star," 29 Mar. 2018 Uniqlo Finds Another Perfect Collaboration Partner Vittorio Zunino Celotto The mass retailer announced a partnership with Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier, who shares the brand’s enthusiasm for perfect basics. — Cam Wolf, GQ, "Uniqlo Finds Another Perfect Collaboration Partner," 20 Feb. 2018 The Bush Twins Talk Etiquette, Elbows, and the Perfect Hostess Gift How to behave at the dinner table Whether eating at home, a restaurant, or their grandmother’s house, children should know the basics of dining etiquette and table manners. — Betsy Cribb, Southern Living, "5 Etiquette Lessons Every Child Should Learn," 31 Jan. 2018

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.