basic process

of, pertaining to, or forming a base; fundamental: a basic principle; the basic ingredient.

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. Compare acid (def. 8).

Geology. (of a rock) having relatively little silica.

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.