Basic - English meaning

adjective

Used to describe an amount of money that is only just enough, or too little, for a particular purpose, or an arrangement that offers as little of something as possible

Usage examples:

This bare-bones budget is far short of the amount we need to maintain existing programs., the airli…

noun

The underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process.

Usage examples:

Trust is the only basis for a good working relationship

noun

The most important facts, ideas, etc. from which something is developed

Usage examples:

Form the basis for this document will form the basis for our discussion., on the basis of decisions…

noun

A way or method of doing something

Usage examples:

On a voluntary basis most of our staff work for us on a voluntary basis (= they work without being …

noun

Solid rock underlying loose deposits such as soil or alluvium.

Usage examples:

Flat or slightly rolling terrain is the rule here, and thick soil deposits overlay cretaceous shale…

noun

The hard area of rock in the ground that holds up the loose soil above

noun

The main principles on which something is based

Usage examples:

Some people believe that the family is the bedrock of society.

noun

A leading dignitary of the roman catholic church. cardinals are nominated by the pope, and form the sacred college which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number).

Usage examples:

His appointment as cardinal

adjective

Of the greatest importance; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Two cardinal points must be borne in mind

noun

A priest of high rank in the roman catholic church

Usage examples:

Finding food was a cardinal concern.

adjective

At the point or in the area that is in the middle of something.

Usage examples:

The station has a central courtyard

noun

A place with a high concentration of a specified type of person or thing.

Usage examples:

You're in workaholic central here

adjective

In, at, from, or near the center

Usage examples:

He grew up in central illinois., american novels often take money as their central concern., a cent…

noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Usage examples:

The chief of the village

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

The chief reason for the spending cuts

adjective

Most important

Usage examples:

Their chief objection to the appointment was that she had no judicial experience., the chief econom…

noun

The tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds.

Usage examples:

A pineapple core

verb

Remove the tough central part and seeds from (a fruit).

Usage examples:

Peel and core the pears

combining form

Denoting types of rock or dance music, typically those with an aggressive or extreme style.

Usage examples:

Emocore

adjective

Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements.

Usage examples:

I was very critical of the previous regime

adjective

Of the greatest importance

Usage examples:

Critical industries, what happens in the next 48 hours is critical., he was admitted to metropolita…

adjective

Extremely important to the progress or success of something

Usage examples:

Critical to/for sth logistics and distribution are critical to an e-commerce venture's success., cr…

noun

The decisive or most important point at issue.

Usage examples:

The crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed

proper noun

The smallest constellation (the cross or southern cross), but the most familiar one to observers in the southern hemisphere. it contains the bright star acrux, the ‘jewel box’ star cluster, and most of the coalsack nebula.

adjective

Used with preceding greek letter or numeral to designate a star in the constellation crux.

Usage examples:

The star beta crucis

adjective

Forming an essential or typical feature; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Failure is always apparent at this elemental level

noun

A supernatural entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means.

Usage examples:

Gods and elementals looked out upon the worshippers

adjective

Basic or simple but strongly felt

Usage examples:

Elemental needs/desires

adjective

Relating to the basic elements of a subject.

Usage examples:

An elementary astronomy course

adjective

Simple or easy; basic

Usage examples:

I’m taking a course in elementary russian., the elementary charge (= the electrical charge in the n…

adjective

Basic

Usage examples:

Elementary knowledge i have an elementary knowledge of physics., elementary mistake they made some …

noun

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character.

Usage examples:

Conflict is the essence of drama

noun

The basic meaning or importance of something

Usage examples:

The essence of punk was a revolt against both the sound and the system of popular music., in essenc…

noun

The basic or most important idea or quality of something

Usage examples:

The essence of his argument was that education should continue throughout life., yet change is the …

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Extremely important or necessary

Usage examples:

A knowledge of spanish is essential for this job., there is an essential difference between the two…

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

adjective

(of a disease) with no known external stimulus or cause; idiopathic.

Usage examples:

Essential hypertension

noun

A thing that is known or proved to be true.

Usage examples:

He ignores some historical and economic facts

noun

Something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof exists, or about which there is information

Usage examples:

No decision will be made until we know all the facts., fact about i don't know all the facts about …

noun

Used to add emphasis to what you are saying, or to show that it is the opposite of or different from what went before

Usage examples:

I don't work. in fact, i've never had a job.

adjective

Relating to the centre or most important part.

Usage examples:

The focal symbol of sovereignty is the crown

adjective

Central and important

Usage examples:

Focal figure the focal figure of the movie is annette corley, a dancer who has boyfriend troubles.

noun

The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

Usage examples:

Foundations were being dug for a block of flats

phrase

The structures below the surface of the ground that support a building

Usage examples:

The foundations will have to be reinforced to prevent the house from sinking further into the groun…

adjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.

Usage examples:

The protection of fundamental human rights

noun

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.

Usage examples:

Two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology

adjective

Being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend

Usage examples:

Fundamental beliefs/principles, we need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environ…

noun

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.

Usage examples:

Two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology

adjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.

Usage examples:

The protection of fundamental human rights

noun

Basic financial facts that show whether a business and its shares, etc. or an economy and its currency, are strong and successful

Usage examples:

Share prices have risen across asia as fundamentals improve., global uncertainty is unlikely to bec…

noun

Preliminary or basic work.

Usage examples:

The inquiry's findings are expected to lay the groundwork for a complete overhaul of the system

noun

Work done in preparation for something that will happen later

Usage examples:

The planning committee will lay the groundwork for the conference.

noun

To do work in preparation for work that will be done later

Usage examples:

The company is laying the groundwork for market development.

noun

A softer, usually edible part of a nut, seed, or fruit stone contained within its shell.

Usage examples:

The kernel of a walnut

noun

The edible part of a nut that is inside the shell, or the whole seed of a grain plant

Usage examples:

Fig. there’s a kernel of truth in what he said (= some small part of it is true).

noun

The part of a nut that is inside the shell and can be eaten

noun

A small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it.

Usage examples:

There were two keys to the cupboard

adjective

Of crucial importance.

Usage examples:

She became a key figure in the suffragette movement

verb

Enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer keyboard or telephone keypad.

Usage examples:

Not everyone can key data quickly and accurately

noun

A long white-fleshed gourd with green skin, which is eaten as a vegetable.

Usage examples:

Other specialist bags have been developed especially for salads and vegetables including even marro…

noun

A friend, companion, or workmate (often used as a form of address).

Usage examples:

Come here, marrer, we need to talk

noun

The soft, fatty tissue in the center of bones

noun

The flesh of an animal, typically a mammal or bird, as food (the flesh of domestic fowls is sometimes distinguished as poultry ).

Usage examples:

Pieces of meat

noun

The flesh of an animal when it is used for food

Usage examples:

Get a pound of chopped meat from the supermarket on your way home.

noun

The crux or central point of a matter.

Usage examples:

The nub of the problem lies elsewhere

noun

The most important or basic part of something

Usage examples:

What do you think is the nub of the problem?

adjective

Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.

Usage examples:

Japan's pivotal role in the world economy

adjective

Important because other things depend on it

Usage examples:

She played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

adjective

If something is pivotal, it is very important because other things depend on it

Usage examples:

A pivotal moment/point the speech marked a pivotal moment in the world bank's history., because imm…

plural noun

The particular conditions of a situation; the actual facts

Usage examples:

I know you have to be in paris tomorrow, but you have to understand the practicalities of arranging…

noun

A preliminary action or event.

Usage examples:

The bombardment was resumed as a preliminary to an infantry attack

adjective

Preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.

Usage examples:

A preliminary draft

adjective

Of chief importance; principal.

Usage examples:

The government's primary aim is to see significant reductions in unemployment

noun

(in the us) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Usage examples:

These two republicans should win their primaries easily

verb

Former term for palaeozoic.

adjective

First in order of importance; main.

Usage examples:

The country's principal cities

noun

The most important or senior person in an organization or group.

Usage examples:

A design consultancy whose principal is based in san francisco

adjective

First in order of importance

Usage examples:

Iraq’s principal export is oil.

noun

A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning.

Usage examples:

The basic principles of justice

noun

A moral rule or standard of good behavior or fair dealing

Usage examples:

[ c ] his guiding principle is that everyone should have equal access to high-quality health care.,…

noun

A basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works

Usage examples:

A principle of sth those who paid the most would be earning the most: it's a pretty basic principle…

adjective

Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

Usage examples:

He was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained

noun

The part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibres.

Usage examples:

Cacti have deep and spreading roots

verb

Cause (a plant or cutting) to grow roots.

Usage examples:

Root your own cuttings from stock plants

noun

An act of rooting.

Usage examples:

I had a root through the open drawers

adjective

Involving or limited to basic principles.

Usage examples:

He received a rudimentary education

adjective

Only basic, and not deep or detailed

Usage examples:

She has only a rudimentary grasp of the language.

noun

The first principles of (a subject).

Usage examples:

She taught the girls the rudiments of reading and writing

plural noun

The simplest and most basic facts

Usage examples:

The rudiments of grammar

adjective

Most noticeable or important.

Usage examples:

It succinctly covered all the salient points of the case

noun

A piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle.

Usage examples:

Had the wall run due north from this point on the upper terrace, the area enclosed would have been …

adjective

Most noticeable or important

Usage examples:

The salient fact about the case is that it involves an american.

noun

A piece of thin wire with two short right-angled end pieces which are driven by a stapler through sheets of paper to fasten them together.

Usage examples:

If you use paper on your compost, be aware of any plastic or staples in the paper - worms can't eat…

verb

Attach or secure with a staple or staples.

Usage examples:

Merrill stapled a batch of papers together

adjective

Main or important, especially in terms of consumption.

Usage examples:

The staple foods of the poor