basal

American  

[bey-suhl, -zuhl] / ˈbeɪ səl, -zəl /

adjective

1. of, at, or forming the base.

2. forming a basis; fundamental; basic.

3. 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.

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

---

basal British  

/ ˈbeɪsəl /

adjective

1. at, of, or constituting a base

2. of or constituting a foundation or basis; fundamental; essential

---

Other Word Forms

• basally adverb
• prebasal adjective

Etymology

Origin of basal

First recorded in 1820–30; base ¹ + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Over the past decade, scientists have identified two main molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer, classical and basal.

From Science Daily

"For decades, Parkinson's has been primarily associated with motor deficits and the basal ganglia," the part of the brain that controls muscle movements, Liu said.

From Science Daily

But the research, published in the Nature Plants journal, excluded areas affected by fires or clearing, and also examined the stand basal area -- the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all trees in an area.

From Barron's

Non-melanoma cancers like basal and squamous cell are more common but usually less likely to spread or be fatal, he said.

From BBC

At the same time, there was an increase in basal progenitor cells, which usually appear later as development progresses.

From Science Daily