/bed"rok'/ , n.
1. Geol. unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil or rock fragments.
2. bottom layer; lowest stratum.
3. any firm foundation or basis: Technical courses will be founded on a bedrock of sound, general education so as to produce a well-rounded engineer.
4. the fundamental principles, as of a teaching, belief, or science: Let's strip away the cant and get down to bedrock.
adj.
5. basic; fundamental.
[ 1840-50, Amer.; BED + ROCK 1 ]