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basal
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As an adjective, basal means basic, elementary. As a noun, it means base, bottom, minimum.
Meanings of basal
8 meaningsadjective
Basic, elementary; relating to, or forming, the base, or point of origin.
“This is the basal idea.”
“The organism needs more energy on basal maintenance.”
anatomyAssociated with the base of an organism or structure.
“In the spring, basal leaves emerge from a stout taproot.”
medicineOf a minimal level that is necessary for maintaining the health or life of an organism.
“a basal diet”
chiefly systematicsIn a phylogenetic tree, being a group, or member of a group, which diverged earlier. The earliest clade to branch in a larger clade.
“Hittite is a basal Indo-European language.”
“A magnolia is a basal angiosperm.”
Especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem
“basal placentation”
“radical leaves”
Similar: radicalOf or being the essential or basic part
“an elementary need for love and nurturing”
“a basal reader”
Similar: elementary, elemental, primary
noun
Base, bottom, minimum
anatomyAny basal structure or part
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).