basket

noun

bas·​ket ˈba-skit How to pronounce basket (audio)
 British also  ˈbä-
1
a
: a receptacle made of interwoven material (such as osiers)
b
: any of various lightweight usually wood containers
c
: the quantity contained in a basket
2
: something that resembles a basket especially in shape or use
3
a
: a net open at the bottom and suspended from a metal ring that constitutes the goal in basketball
b
: a field goal in basketball
4
a
: an aggregate of values (as of selected currencies) the average of which serves as a monetary standard
b
: a selection of financial instruments (such as equities, futures, or options) the values of which reflect market fluctuations
5
: a ring around the lower end of a ski pole that keeps the pole from sinking too deep in snow
basketlike adjective

Examples of basket in a Sentence

They brought their lunch in a picnic basket. His shot missed the basket completely.
Recent Examples on the Web Stocked with a Butterball turkey, pumpkin pie ingredients and side dishes, the Aldi Thanksgiving basket delivers a full holiday meal for less than $4.70 a person. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 17 Oct. 2024 Marine biologists taking inventory of the biodiversity in the bay counted nearly 100 species in these baskets. Sunset Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 Napheesa Collier, #24 of the Minnesota Lynx, scores the game-winning basket during the game against the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Oct. 10, 2024. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024 Wiggins, meanwhile, struggled offensively in his preseason debut, but the touch around the basket and on jumpers should come around. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for basket 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French; akin to Old French baschoue wooden vessel; both from Latin bascauda kind of basin, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish basc necklace — more at fascia

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of basket was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near basket

Cite this Entry

“Basket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basket. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

basket

noun
bas·​ket ˈbas-kət How to pronounce basket (audio)
1
a
: a container made by weaving together materials (as reeds, straw, or strips of wood)
b
: the contents of a basket
2
: something that resembles a basket
3
a
: a net open at the bottom and hung from a metal ring that is the goal in basketball
b
: a score made in basketball by tossing the ball through the basket
basketlike adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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