ba·sal

[bey-suhl, -zuhl]
adjective
1.
of, at, or forming the base.
2.
forming a basis; fundamental; basic.
3.
Physiology.
a.
indicating a standard low level of activity of an organism, as during total rest.
b.
of an amount required to maintain this level.
4.
Medicine/Medical. serving to induce a preliminary or light anesthesia prior to total anesthetization.

Origin:
1820–30; base1 + -al1

ba·sal·ly, adverb
pre·ba·sal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Basal is always a great word to know.
So is mandible. Does it mean:
the bone of the lower jaw.
the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap.
Collins
World English Dictionary
basal (ˈbeɪsəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  at, of, or constituting a base
2.  of or constituting a foundation or basis; fundamental; essential
 
'basally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

basal
"relating to a base," 1828, from base + -al (1).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

basal ba·sal (bā'səl, -zəl)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, located at, or forming a base, usually of an organ or a tooth.

  2. Of, relating to, of situated at the lowest level, as of an organ.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Thin, noticeably downcurved bill, blue-gray on the basal half lower mandible.
Basal cell cancer is rarely staged, because it doesn't usually spread to other
  organs.
Specific areas of the brain, such as the basal ganglia, are more likely to be
  injured from liver failure.
These bacteria set the normal basal nitric oxide level by oxidizing the ammonia
  in sweat into nitric oxide and nitrite.
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