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Webster 1913 Edition


Basic

Ba′sic

,
Adj.
1.
(Chem.)
(a)
Relating to a base; performing the office of a base in a salt.
(b)
Having the base in excess, or the amount of the base atomically greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in proportion that of the related neutral salt.
(c)
Apparently alkaline, as certain normal salts which exhibit alkaline reactions with test paper.
2.
(Min.)
Said of crystalline rocks which contain a relatively low percentage of silica, as basalt.
Basic salt
(Chem.)
,
a salt formed from a base or hydroxide by the partial replacement of its hydrogen by a negative or acid element or radical.

Definition 2024


Basic

Basic

See also: basic, BASIC, and bàsic

English

Alternative forms

Proper noun

Basic

  1. A family of third-generation computer programming languages (c.1964 on).
    Many programs were written for the Sinclair Spectrum computer in BASIC.

See also

Anagrams

basic

basic

See also: Basic, BASIC, and bàsic

English

Adjective

basic (comparative more basic, superlative most basic)

  1. Necessary, essential for life or some process.
    Flour is a basic ingredient of bread.
  2. Elementary, simple, fundamental, merely functional.
    The Hotel Sparta’s accommodation is purely basic.
  3. (chemistry) Of or pertaining to a base; having a pH greater than 7.
  4. (slang) Unremarkable or uninteresting; boring; uncool.
    • 2013, Sam Stryker, "Why Does Everyone Hate Anne Hathaway?", The Observer (University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College), Volume 46, Issue 101, 1 March 2013, page 11:
      I'm not saying people are jealous of Hathaway because she is so perfect. Yes, she does have it all — husband, healthy career, good looks. But she doesn't do anything in an "awesome" way. She's basic.
    • 2014, Trevor Thrall, "Firing Line: Rowling says ‘JK,’ Ron and Hermione not meant to be", The Daily Campus (Southern Methodist University), Volume 99, Issue 54, 3 February 2014, page 4:
      And what can be said about Ginny? She’s basic. My guess is that she spends her time drinking pumpkin spice lattes and watching “Pretty Little Liars.” The Chosen One is way out of her quidditch league.
    • 2015, Lily Kunda, "A New Track On Hip-Hipocrisy", The Marlin Chronicle (Virginia Wesleyan College), 26 February 2015, page 7:
      "I couldn't get into it, I could barely understand what he's saying – it had too much cursing and explicit language," said Cortnee Brandon. "I think his lyrics are easy...he's basic. Kendrick Lamar is kind of overrated."

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:bare-bones
  • (chemistry): alkaline

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

basic (plural basics)

  1. A necessary commodity, a staple requirement.
    Rice is a basic for many Asian villagers.
  2. An elementary building block, e.g. a fundamental piece of knowledge.
    Arithmetic is a basic for the study of mathematics.
  3. (military) Basic training.

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Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from English BASIC.

Noun

basic m (invariable)

  1. (computing) BASIC

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