1. Reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality
   "a basic story line";
   - canonic, canonical
    
2. Pertaining to or constituting a base or basis
   "basic changes in public opinion occur because of changes in priorities"; "a basic fact"; "the basic ingredients"
    
3. Serving as a base or starting point
   "a basic course in Russian"; "basic training for raw recruits"; "a set of basic tools";
   - introductory
    
4. (chemistry) of or denoting or of the nature of or containing a base
   "The solution turned the litmus paper blue, indicating it was basic"
    
5. (chemistry) relating to or containing an alkali; having a pH greater than 7
   "basic soils derived from chalk or limestone";
   - alkaline, alkalic
    
6. [N. Amer, informal] Unoriginal, mainstream, or overly conventional, often used to describe someone who follows popular trends without individuality
   "She's so basic with her pumpkin spice latte and yoga pants"

1. An essential item, especially for daily needs
   "Food and shelter are considered basics of life";
   - staple

1. A popular programming language that is relatively easy to learn; an acronym for beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code; no longer in general use

Derived forms: basics

See also: 1st, alcalescent, alkalescent, basal, base, base-forming, elemental, elementary, first, fundamental, grassroots, primary, radical, rudimentary, saltlike, standard, underlying

Type of: commodity, good, programing language [US], programming language, trade good

Encyclopedia: Basic, Mississippi