96
on which everything else rests, depends, or is built; FUNDA-
MENTAL: the basic principles of mathematics | The industry's
basic problem is the lack of demand. | A knowledge of her
upbringing is basic to an understanding of her books. 2 [A]
being a starting point, to which more can be added: my
basic salary (=before any additional payments) | a short
course in basic computer skills 3 [F] infml simple and without
anything more than is necessary; RUDIMENTARY: I'm afraid
the hotel is a bit basic. | My knowledge of car engines is pretty
basic. → see also BASICS
BASIC /'beɪsɪk/ n [U] a simple computer language, used to
write simple computer PROGRAMS
ba·sic·ally /'beɪsɪkli/ adv with regard to what is most impor-
tant and basic; in reality; FUNDAMENTALLY: Basically, he's a
nice person, but he doesn't always show it. | He's basically
nice. | Basically (=the simple and most important fact is) the
company is in a mess.
ba·sics /'beɪsɪks/ n [(the) P (of)] the basic parts or principles of
a subject, process etc: The basics of education are reading,
writing, and simple arithmetic. | We need to get back to (the)
basics. | a back-to-basics approach to education
,basic 'training n [U] the period in which a new soldier is
taught military rules and how to fight and is given much
physical exercise
Ba·sie, Count /'beɪsi/ (1904-84) a US JAZZ musician who
played the piano, and led one of the most famous bands to
play SWING (=jazz music of the 1930s and 40s)
bas·il /'bæzəl||'ber-/ n [U] a type of sweet-smelling plant
(HERB) used in cooking
Bas·il Brush /,bæzəl 'brʌʃ/ a PUPPET who used to have his
own children's programme on British television. He looks
like a FOX, and tells silly jokes, after which he always laughs
and says 'Boom, boom!'
ba·sil·i·ca /bə'sɪlɪkə, -'ziːl-/ n 1 (in ancient Rome) a long
room, round at one end, with a roof resting on two lines of
stone supports, used as a law court 2 a church with a form
like this: St Peter's Basilica in Rome is the largest Roman
Catholic church.
bas·i·lisk /'bæsɪlɪsk, 'bæz-/ n an imaginary snakelike crea-
ture, whose breath and look were thought to be able to kill
ba·sin /'beɪsən/ n 1 especially BrE a round container that is
wide but not very deep, used for holding liquids or food;
bowl: a pudding basin 2 a WASHBASIN 3 [(of)] also ba·sin·ful
/-fʊl/ the amount a basin will hold: a basin of hot water 4 a
hollow place containing water, or where water collects: the
basin of a fountain 5 an area of land from which water runs
down into a river; a large valley: the Amazon Basin 6 the
deep part of a HARBOUR almost surrounded by land
'Basin Street a street in New Orleans in the US where JAZZ
music originally became popular. The song Basin Street Blues
made the street famous, and many jazz musicians have
recorded this song.
ba·sis /'beɪsɪs/ n pl. bases /'beɪsiːz/ 1 [(of, for)] the facts,
principles, statements etc from which something is formed,
started, or developed: What is the basis of/for your opinion? |
There is no scientific basis for these claims. | This series of
lectures formed the basis of a new book. | Is it safe to predict
the result on the basis of one opinion poll? 2 the stated way
of carrying out an action, process etc: She works for us on a
part-time basis. | He gives advice on an individual basis. | The
machine has been installed on a trial basis. 3 the main or
most important part of something: The basis of the drink is
orange juice.
bask /bɑːsk||bæsk/ v [(in)] to sit or lie in pleasant warmth: to
lie on the sand, basking in the sunshine | (fig.) He basked in
(=enjoyed) his employer's approval.
Baskervilles → see HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
bas·ket /'bɑːskɪt||'bæ-/ n 1 a light container made of nar-
row pieces of wood, plastic, wire etc, woven together, and
used for carrying or holding things: a shopping basket | a
basket of eggs | a wastepaper basket 2 [(of)] also basket·ful
/-fʊl/ the amount a basket will hold: a basket of fruit 3 an
open net fixed to a metal ring high up off the ground,
through which players try to throw the ball in the game of
basketball → see picture at NET 4 a point in this game: He
shot (=made) 10 baskets.
bas·ket·ball /'bɑːskɪtbɔːl||'bæs-/ n [U] an indoor game
between two teams of usually five players each, in which each
team tries to throw a large ball (the basketball) through the
other team's BASKET → see REFEREE (USAGE); see colour
photo on page A45
CULTURAL NOTE Basketball is one of the most popular
sports in the US. Many people play and watch basketball
games. Most parks have places to play basketball, and
people often go there to play in a PICK-UP GAME (=an
informal game played by anyone who wants to play when
the game is starting). Many people have a basketball net
at their homes, as well. Basketball is an important sport in
HIGH SCHOOL, and most schools have both girls' and
boys' teams that compete against teams from other
schools. The best players are RECRUITED to play on
college teams. Many men's college games and some
women's college games are shown on television and are
watched by large numbers of people. There are
professional teams for both women and men: the
women's teams play against each other in the WNBA
(=Women's National Basketball Association), and the
men's teams play in the NBA (=National Basketball
Association). → see also MARCH MADNESS
'basket ,case n infml 1 a country or organization that is
completely disorganized and needs other countries or
organizations to help it, especially financially 2 someone
who is so nervous or worried that they cannot deal with
simple problems and ordinary situations
bas·ket·ry /'bɑːskɪtri||'bæs-/ also bas·ket·work
/'bɑːskɪtwɜːk||'bæskɪtwɜːrk/ n [U] (the art of making)
baskets or objects woven like baskets
'basket ,weaving n [U] the activity of making baskets
CULTURAL NOTE In the US, people often make jokes about
basket weaving, as an activity that takes little skill,
knowledge, or work: What did you study in college,
basket weaving?
Bas·kin-Rob·bins /,bæskɪn 'rɒbɪnz -'rɑː-/ trademark a US
company that became famous for selling 31 different FLA-
VOURS (=types) of ICE CREAM. There are now Baskin-Robbins
shops in many countries.
Basle /baːl/ → see BASEL
Bas·mat·i rice /,bæz,mæti 'raɪs/ n [U] a type of high quality
rice, often eaten with Indian food
basque /bæsk/ n a woman's close-fitting undergarment
reaching from under the arms to the tops of the legs
Basque /bæsk, bɑːsk||bæsk/ n 1 [C] a person from the
mountainous area between southern France and northern
Spain. Some people who live in this area consider them-
selves to be a separate nation that does not belong to either
France or Spain, and some Basques in Spain have tried to
gain political independence. → see also ETA 2 [U] the
language of the Basques, which is unusual because it is not
related to any other language in the world —Basque adj
—Basque separatists (=people who want the Basque area to
become a separate state)
Bas·ra /'bæ