BASIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does BASIC mean? 

• BASIC (noun)
  The noun BASIC has 2 senses:

1. a popular programming language that is relatively easy to learn; an acronym for beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code; no longer in general use

2. (usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant

  Familiarity information: BASIC used as a noun is rare.

• BASIC (adjective)
  The adjective BASIC has 4 senses:

1. pertaining to or constituting a base or basis

2. reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality

3. serving as a base or starting point

4. of or denoting or of the nature of or containing a base

  Familiarity information: BASIC used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BASIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A popular programming language that is relatively easy to learn; an acronym for beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code; no longer in general use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("BASIC" is a kind of...):

programing language; programming language ((computer science) a language designed for programming computers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

basic; staple

Hypernyms ("basic" is a kind of...):

commodity; good; trade good (articles of commerce)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

• BASIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pertaining to or constituting a base or basis

Context example:

basic changes in public opinion occur because of changes in priorities

Similar:

basal; base (serving as or forming a base)

basal; elemental; elementary; primary (of or being the essential or basic part)

fundamental; rudimentary; underlying (being or involving basic facts or principles)

grassroots (fundamental)

radical (arising from or going to the root or source)

Antonym:

incidental ((sometimes followed by 'to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality

Synonyms:

basic; canonic; canonical

Context example:

a canonical syllable pattern

Similar:

standard (established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Serving as a base or starting point

Synonyms:

basic; introductory

Context example:

an introductory art course

Similar:

first (preceding all others in time or space or degree)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of or denoting or of the nature of or containing a base

Similar:

alkalic; alkaline (relating to or containing an alkali; having a pH greater than 7)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

 Context examples 

The basic region interacts with DNA and the HLH motif mediates protein dimerization.

(bHLH Domain, NCI Thesaurus)

The basic relationships between biological and behavioral factors and/or their potential relationship to prevention and/or cessation interventions.

(Behavioral and Biological Associations, NCI Thesaurus)

The HLH region mediates protein dimerization, while the basic region mediates sequence-specific DNA binding.

(BHLH Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Tripartite DNA binding domain containing a basic region, a helix-loop-helix, and a leucine zipper.

(bHLH-Zip Domain, NCI Thesaurus)

A basic glycopeptide antineoplastic antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces verticillus.

(Bleomycin Antibiotic, NCI Thesaurus)

The primary bleomycin species in bleomycin sulfate, a mixture of the sulfate salts of several basic glycopeptide antineoplastic antibiotics isolated from Streptomyces verticillus.

(Bleomycin A2, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 22, plays a role in the modulation of transcription during neuronal development.

(BHLHE22 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is comprised of the the coiled-coil domain and Grb2 binding site of breakpoint cluster region protein followed by the tyrosine kinase domains of the basic fibroblast growth factor receptor 1.

(BCR/FGFR1 Fusion Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

A nucleated red blood cell that stains readily with basic dye.

(Basophilic Erythroblast, NCI Thesaurus)

Basic behavioral studies designed to strengthen the understanding of the determinants and processes that influence cancer-related risk behaviors.

(Basic Behavioral Studies in Cancer-Related Behaviors, NCI Thesaurus)