basket

American  

[bas-kit] / ˈbæs kɪt /

noun

1. a container made of twigs, rushes, thin strips of wood, or other flexible material woven together.

2. a container made of pieces of thin veneer, used for packing berries, vegetables, etc.

3. the amount contained in a basket; a basketful.

   to pick a basket of apples.

4. anything like a basket in shape or use.

   He never empties my wastepaper basket.

5. any group of things or different things grouped as a unit; a package; package deal.

   You can't buy the single stock; you have to take the basket—all companies, stocks and bonds.

6. the car or gondola suspended beneath a balloon, as for carrying passengers or scientific instruments into the atmosphere.

7. Basketball.

   1. an open net suspended from a metal rim attached to the backboard and through which the ball must pass in order for a player to score points.

   2. a score, counting two for a field goal and one for a free throw.

8. Also called snow ring.  Skiing. a ring strapped to the base of a ski pole to limit penetration of the pole in the snow.

9. Slang: Vulgar. the male genitals, especially when outlined by a tight-fitting garment.

---

basket British  

/ ˈbɑːskɪt /

noun

1. a container made of interwoven strips of pliable materials, such as cane, straw, thin wood, or plastic, and often carried by means of a handle or handles

2. Also called: basketful.  the amount a basket will hold

3. something resembling such a container in appearance or function, such as the structure suspended from a balloon

4. basketball

   1. an open horizontal metal hoop fixed to the backboard, through which a player must throw the ball to score points

   2. a point or points scored in this way

5. a group or collection of similar of related things

   a basket of currencies

6. informal a euphemism for bastard bastard

7. the list of items an internet shopper chooses to buy at one time from a website

   add these items to your basket

---

basket Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing basket

• put all one's eggs in one basket

---

Other Word Forms

• basketlike adjective
• unbasketlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of basket

1250–1300; Middle English basket ( te ) < early Romance *baskauta (> French dialect bâchot, bachou wooden or interwoven vessel, Old High German baskiza box) < Latin bascauda basin, perhaps < British Celtic

Example Sentences

Four games into his freshman season, Arenas has showcased his talent with creative shots and acrobatic moves at the basket, including a leaping layup early in Saturday’s contest.

From Los Angeles Times

In the corner of the room sits a basket of rushes, some of them were collected by Olivia.

From BBC

Attention turns to key U.S. jobs data after a volatile week for the dollar that saw it drop to its lowest in four years against a basket of currencies before recovering.

From The Wall Street Journal

The dollar also rose a half-point against a broad basket of currencies, suggesting investors expect higher interest rates.

From Barron's

It was bursting with things for sale: piled on shelves, tied to the wall, hanging from the ceiling in baskets and hammocks.

From Literature

Related Words

• box
• crate