basal

[ bey-suh l, -zuh l ]

/ ˈbeɪ səl, -zəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR basal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, at, or forming the base.

forming a basis; fundamental; basic.

Physiology.

indicating a standard low level of activity of an organism, as during total rest.
of an amount required to maintain this level.

Medicine/Medical. serving to induce a preliminary or light anesthesia prior to total anesthetization.

Words nearby basal

barège, bas bleu, bas-relief, bas-rhin, basad, basal, basal anaesthesia, basal anesthesia, basal body, basal cell, basal cell carcinoma

Origin of basal

First recorded in 1820–30; base¹ + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM basal

ba·sal·ly, adverbpre·ba·sal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for basal

I have applied this term to the oblique descent made by the umbo, towards the basal extremity of the anterior side of bivalves.
Zoological Illustrations, Volume III|William Swainson
Indeed, even among the wooded slopes, a habitation along the basal line of the mountain axis seems to be much preferred.
A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 1 (of 2)|Henry O. Forbes
The 5-foot ridgepole of the steep, heavy, grass roof is supported by two posts rising from the basal timbers of the third story.
The Bontoc Igorot|Albert Ernest Jenks
The reason why the basal lamina is here small is because it contains the nuclei of no cranial nerves.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4|Various

There is an imperfect cleavage parallel to the basal pinacoid, and the fracture is conchoidal.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for basal

basal

/ (ˈbeɪsəl) /

adjective

at, of, or constituting a base

of or constituting a foundation or basis; fundamental; essential

Derived forms of basal

basally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for basal

basal

[ bā′səl, -zəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, located at, or forming a base, usually of an organ or a tooth.

Of, relating to, of situated at the lowest level, as of an organ.

basal

adjective

Words related to basal

Words nearby basal

Origin of basal

OTHER WORDS FROM basal

Examples from the Web for basal

British Dictionary definitions for basal

adjective

Derived forms of basal

Medical definitions for basal

adj.