basal

[ bey-suh l, -zuh l ]

/ ˈbeɪ səl, -zəl /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

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

Related forms

ba·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

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

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

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.