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   basic

   /ˈbeɪsɪk/

   adjective

   • 1. forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental: "certain basic rules must be obeyed" Similar fundamentalrudimentaryprimaryprincipalcardinalchiefelementaryelementalrootcentralpivotalcriticalkeyfocalsalientstapleessentialquintessentialbare-bonesstripped downcut downvitalnecessaryindispensablefoundationalintrinsicunderlyingingrainedOpposite secondaryunimportant
   • ▪ offering or constituting the minimum required without elaboration or luxury: "the food was good, if a bit basic" Similar lowestbottomstartinggroundundermostwithout commissionplainsimpleunsophisticatedstraightforwardadequateunadornedundecoratedunornamentedwithout frillsspartansparsestarksevereausterelimitedmeagrerudimentarypatchysketchyminimalmodestordinaryunpretentiousunostentatiousunfussyhomelyhomespunroughrough and readyrough-hewncrudemakeshiftrestrainedmutedinformal:bog-standardOpposite elaborate
   • ▪ common to or required by everyone; primary and ineradicable or inalienable: "basic human rights"
   • ▪ having tastes, interests, or attitudes regarded as mainstream or conventional (typically used of a woman): informal, derogatory North American "if your date orders vegetable tempura you know she is totally basic"
   • 2. having the properties of a base, or containing a base; having a pH above 7: "these salts yield basic solutions comparable in strength with the mineral alkalis"
   • ▪ (of rock, especially lava) relatively poor in silica: "a coarse-grained, basic, plutonic rock"
   • ▪ relating to or denoting steel-making processes involving lime-rich refractories and slags.

   noun

   • 1. the essential facts or principles of a subject or skill: informal "I learnt the basics of programming on a course"
   • ▪ essential food and other supplies: informal "people are facing a shortage of basics like flour"

   Word Origin mid 19th century: from base1 + -ic.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • C

     3

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