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definitions

basal

[bey-suh l, -zuh l]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR basal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, at, or forming the base.
forming a basis; fundamental; basic.
Physiology.
  1. indicating a standard low level of activity of an organism, as during total rest.
  2. of an amount required to maintain this level.
Medicine/Medical. serving to induce a preliminary or light anesthesia prior to total anesthetization.

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RELATED WORDS

beginning, easy, elementary, fundamental, initial, lowest, necessary

Nearby words

  1. barège,
  2. bas bleu,
  3. bas-relief,
  4. bas-rhin,
  5. basad,
  6. basal anaesthesia,
  7. basal anesthesia,
  8. basal body,
  9. basal cell,
  10. basal cell carcinoma

Origin of basal

First recorded in 1820–30; base1 + -al1
Related formsba·sal·ly, adverbpre·ba·sal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for basal

British Dictionary definitions for basal

basal

adjective

at, of, or constituting a base
of or constituting a foundation or basis; fundamental; essential
Derived Formsbasally, 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
Word Origin and History for basal

basal

adj.

"relating to a base," 1828, from base (n.) + -al (1).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine 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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.