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basics

 [bey-sik]   Origin

ba·sic

   [bey-sik]
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or forming a base; fundamental: a basic principle; the basic ingredient.
2.
Chemistry.
a.
pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a base.
b.
not having all of the hydroxyls of the base replaced by the acid group, or having the metal or its equivalent united partly to the acid group and partly to oxygen.
c.
alkaline.
3.
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).
4.
Geology. (of a rock) having relatively little silica.
5.
Military.
a.
primary: basic training.
b.
of lowest rank: airman basic.
noun
6.
Military.
a.
basic training.
b.
a soldier or airman receiving basic training.
7.
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.

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Basics is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1835–45; base1 + -ic

Related forms
non·ba·sic, adjective
qua·si-ba·sic, adjective

Can be confused: basic, BASIC.

Synonyms
1. elementary, essential, key, primary; basal; underlying.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

BASIC

   [bey-sik]
noun Computers.
a widely adopted programming language that uses English words, punctuation marks, and algebraic notation to facilitate communication between the operator or lay user and the computer.
Origin:
1965–70; B(eginner's) A(ll-purpose) S(ymbolic) I(nstruction) C(ode)

Can be confused: basic, BASIC.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To basics
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

BASIC
computer language, 1964, acronym for Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code; invented by J.G. Kemeny and T.E. Kurtz.
EXPAND

basics
"rudiments or fundamentals of anything," by 1934, from basic. Phrase back-to-basics was in use by 1975.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

basic ba·sic (bā'sĭk)
adj.

  1. Of, being, or serving as a starting point or basis.

  2. Producing, resulting from, or relating to a base.

  3. Containing a base, especially in excess of acid.

  4. Containing oxide or hydroxide anions.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
BASIC   (bā'sĭk)  Pronunciation Key 
A simple programming language developed in the 1960s that is widely taught to students as a first programming language.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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