1
a
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
b
: arising from the base of a stem
basal leaves
2
a
: of or relating to the foundation, base, or essence : fundamental
b
: of, relating to, or being essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism : minimal
a basal diet
c
: used for teaching beginners
basal readers
basally
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of basal in a Sentence
many students lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic
Recent Examples on the Web
Avoid disturbing the basal leaves by cutting stems 2 to 3 inches above the soil line.
07 of 10
Peony
Botanical Name: Paeonia spp.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Findings such as these suggest that in people with RBD, movement is generated through a motor circuit that bypasses the basal ganglia.
—Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2023
The tool tracks heart rate, blood-oxygen levels, stress levels, basal temperature, and more.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
These revelations have put the biologist at the vanguard of a new field called basal cognition.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for basal 
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Findings such as these suggest that in people with RBD, movement is generated through a motor circuit that bypasses the basal ganglia.
—Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2023
The tool tracks heart rate, blood-oxygen levels, stress levels, basal temperature, and more.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
These revelations have put the biologist at the vanguard of a new field called basal cognition.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for basal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near basal
Cite this Entry
“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
1
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
2
: of, relating to, or essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism (as respiration, heartbeat, or excretion)
a basal diet
see basal metabolism
3
: serving as or serving to induce an initial comatose or unconscious state that forms a basis for further anesthetization
basal narcosis
a basal anesthetic
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