Basic vocabulary


the set of lexical items in a language that are most resistant to replacement, referring to the most common and universal elements of human experience, such as parts of the body (foot, eye), universal features of the environment (water, star), common activities (eat, sleep), and the lowest numerals.
Historical Examples

Upon this foundation of a sound accent and a basic vocabulary must be built the general fabric of the language.
Mankind in the Making H. G. Wells

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  • Basic wage

    base pay. Historical Examples The basic wage constitutes the main incentive for work; bonuses, premiums, and honors play a minor role. Area Handbook for Bulgaria Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole basic wage pay has been based on the place of employment and […]

  • Basic life support

    basic life support basic life support n. Emergency procedures performed to sustain life that include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, control of bleeding, treatment of shock, stabilization of injuries and wounds, and first aid.

  • Basically

    fundamentally. Contemporary Examples Tom Skerritt: The extras were basically this improvisational group that he found in San Francisco. The Making of M*A*S*H Mitchell Zuckoff October 23, 2009 High-end art needs to come with a chain-of-custody that authenticates it; otherwise it’s basically worthless. So You’ve Stolen a Valuable Painting. What Do You Do Now? Megan McArdle […]

  • Basichromatic

    basichromatic basichromatic ba·si·chro·mat·ic (bā’sĭ-krō-māt’ĭk) adj. Easily stained with basic dye.

  • Basicity

    the state of being a base. the power of an acid to react with bases, dependent on the number of replaceable hydrogen atoms of the acid. Historical Examples He believed the organic base owed its basicity to the ammonia. Cooley’s Practical Receipts, Volume II Arnold Cooley When some sodium chloride solution is then added to […]


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