basal

UK: /ˈbeɪs^əl/ US: /ˈbeɪsəl, -zəl/ ,(bā′səl, -zəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•sal /ˈbeɪsəl, -zəl/   adj. 

1. of, at, or forming a base.
2. being a basis.

ba•sal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•sal  (bā′səl, -zəl), adj. 

1. of, at, or forming the base.
2. Physiology forming a basis;
   fundamental;
   basic.
3. [Physiol.]
   • indicating a standard low level of activity of an organism, as during total rest.
   • of an amount required to maintain this level.
4. Medicine serving to induce a preliminary or light anesthesia prior to total anesthetization.
5. Education used in elementary instruction;
   fundamental:
   a basal reader.

• base¹ + -al¹ 1820–30

ba′sal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

basal / ˈbeɪs^əl/ adjective

1. at, of, or constituting a base
2. of or constituting a foundation or basis; fundamental; essential

ˈbasally adverb