BASIC


Meaning of BASIC in English

I. ˈbās]ik, ]ēk sometimes -āz]\ adjective

Etymology: base (I) + -ic

1. : of, relating to, or forming the base or essence : fundamental , essential , irreducible

a basic fact

a basic argument

basic truths

2. : constituting or serving as the basis or starting point

a basic house

3.

a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a base

basic groups

basic nitrogen

— compare alkaline

b. : having an alkaline reaction

basic compounds

a basic catalyst

c. of salts : derived by partial neutralization

basic lead carbonate

basic bismuth chloride

d. : containing or involving the use of alkaline material

a furnace with a basic lining

— see basic process

e. : base-forming

lime is a basic oxide

4. of rocks : containing relatively little silica : subsilicic — opposed to acid

5. : relating to or made by a basic process

basic steel

basic rails

6. of language : having a vocabulary that consists of a very small number of words but that can be used to convey a wide range of ideas or information

basic French

7. : assigned for general duties within a military organization

a basic private

8. : prescribed and nominal — used of standards (as of size) that are the basis for the calculation of allowances and tolerances

II. noun

( -s )

1. : something that is basic : fundamental — usually used in plural

the basics of honesty

the basics of sewing

2. : basic training

took his basic at Keesler Field

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.