basal

[ bey-suh l, -zuh l ]
/ ˈbeɪ səl, -zəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR basal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, at, or forming the base.
forming a basis; fundamental; basic.
Physiology.
  1. indicating a standard low level of activity of an organism, as during total rest.
  2. of an amount required to maintain this level.
Medicine/Medical. serving to induce a preliminary or light anesthesia prior to total anesthetization.

Origin of basal

First recorded in 1820–30; base1 + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM basal

ba·sal·ly, adverb pre·ba·sal, adjective

Words nearby basal

barège, bas bleu, bas-relief, bas-rhin, basad, basal, basal anaesthesia, basal anesthesia, basal body, basal cell, basal cell carcinoma

Words related to basal

beginning, easy, elementary, fundamental, initial, lowest, necessary

Example sentences from the Web for basal

British Dictionary definitions for basal

basal
/ (ˈbeɪsəl) /

adjective

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

Derived forms of basal

basally, adverb

Medical definitions for basal

basal
[ bā′səl, -zəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, located at, or forming a base, usually of an organ or a tooth.
Of, relating to, of situated at the lowest level, as of an organ.