[fun.da.men.tal] adj (15c) 1 a: serving as an original or generating source: primary "a discovery ~ to modern computers" b: serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function: basic
2. a: of or relating to essential structure, function, or facts: radical "~ change"; also: of or dealing with general principles rather than practical application "~ science" b: adhering to fundamentalism
3: of, relating to, or produced by the lowest component of a complex vibration
4: of central importance: principal "~ purpose"
5: belonging to one's innate or ingrained characteristics: deep-rooted "her ~ good humor" syn see essential -- fun.da.men.tal.ly adv
[2]fundamental n (1637) 1: something fundamental; esp: one of the minimum constituents without which a thing or a system would not be what it is
2. a: the principal musical tone produced by vibration (as of a string or column of air) on which a series of higher harmonics is based b: the root of a chord
3: the harmonic component of a complex wave that has the lowest frequency and commonly the greatest amplitude