Basic ˈbeɪsɪk Adjective Information/Facts/Ideas Principles Law Life Skills

• basic information/facts/ideas
• the basic principles of law
• basic life skills
• drums are basic to african music.

basic

1. forming the part of something that is most necessary and from which other things develop
• basic information/facts/ideas
• the basic principles of law
• basic life skills
• Drums are basic to African music.

Extra Examples

• There is a basic fault in the design of the engine.
• There's a basic contradiction in the whole idea of paying for justice.
• They haven't even given us the most basic information we need.
• The basic idea is that we all meet up in London.
2. of the simplest kind or at the simplest level
• The campsite has only basic amenities.
• My knowledge of French is pretty basic.
• The design is very basic.
• I'm going to ask you a few basic questions.
• The recuits begin their basic training next week.
3. necessary and important to all people
• basic human rights
• basic needs like food, shelter and security
• the cost of basic foods
4. before anything extra is added
• The basic pay of the average worker has risen by 3 per cent.
• your basic salary/earnings
• Before designing the house we planned the basic layout of the rooms.
• The basic recipe can be adapted by adding grated lemon.

Word Origin

• mid 19th cent.: from the noun base + -ic.