basics

UK: /ˈbeɪsɪks/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ba•sic /ˈbeɪsɪk/   adj. 

1. [before a noun] of, relating to, or forming a base or basis;
   fundamental:
   a basic principle.
2. Chemistry
   • of or relating to a chemical base.
   • alkaline.

n. [countable]

3. Often, basics. [plural] something that is basic;
   an essential.

BASIC /ˈbeɪsɪk/   n. [proper noun or countable]

B(eginner's) A(ll-purpose) S(ymbolic) I(nstruction) C(ode):
1. Computing a high-level computer programming language that uses English words and punctuation marks.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ba•sic  (bā′sik), adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, or forming a base;
   fundamental:
   a basic principle; the basic ingredient.
2. Chemistry
   • pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a base.
   • not having all of the hydroxyls of the base replaced by the acid group, or having the metal or its equivalent united partly to the acid group and partly to oxygen.
   • alkaline.
3. Metallurgy noting, pertaining to, or made by a steelmaking process (basic process) in which the furnace or converter is lined with a basic or nonsiliceous material, mainly burned magnesite and a small amount of ground basic slag, to remove impurities from the steel. Cf. acid (def. 9).
4. Geology (of a rock) having relatively little silica.
5. Military
   • primary:
     basic training.
   • of lowest rank:
     airman basic.

n. 

6. Military
   • See basic training. 
   • a soldier or airman receiving basic training.
7. Often, basics. something that is fundamental or basic;
   an essential ingredient, principle, procedure, etc.:
   to learn the basics of music; to get back to basics.

• base¹ + -ic 1835–45

Synonyms

• 1. elementary, essential, key, primary; basal; underlying.

BASIC  (bā′sik), n. [Computers.]

1. Computing a widely adopted programming language that uses English words, punctuation marks, and algebraic notation to facilitate communication between the operator or lay user and the computer.

• B(eginner's) A(ll-purpose) south, southern( ymbolic) I(nstruction) C(ode) 1965–70