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fundamental

 - 3 dictionary results

fun⋅da⋅men⋅tal

  [fuhn-duh-men-tl]
Use fundamental in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or basis; basic; underlying: fundamental principles; the fundamental structure.
2. of, pertaining to, or affecting the foundation or basis: a fundamental revision.
3. being an original or primary source: a fundamental idea.
4. Music. (of a chord) having its root as its lowest note.
–noun
5. a basic principle, rule, law, or the like, that serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part: to master the fundamentals of a trade.
6. Also called fundamental note, fundamental tone. Music.
a. the root of a chord.
b. the generator of a series of harmonics.
7. Physics. the component of lowest frequency in a composite wave.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < ML fundāmentālis of, belonging to a foundation. See fundament, -al 1

Related forms:
fun⋅da⋅men⋅tal⋅i⋅ty, fun⋅da⋅men⋅tal⋅ness, noun
fun⋅da⋅men⋅tal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. indispensable, primary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fundamental
fun·da·men·tal   (fŭn'də-měn'tl)   
adj.  

    1. Of or relating to the foundation or base; elementary: the fundamental laws of the universe.

    2. Forming or serving as an essential component of a system or structure; central: an example that was fundamental to the argument.

    3. Of great significance or entailing major change: a book that underwent fundamental revision.

    4. Of or relating to the component of lowest frequency of a periodic wave or quantity.

    5. Of or relating to the lowest possible frequency of a vibrating element or system.

  2. Physics

    1. Of or relating to the component of lowest frequency of a periodic wave or quantity.

    2. Of or relating to the lowest possible frequency of a vibrating element or system.

  3. Music Having the root in the bass: a fundamental chord.

n.  

  1. Something that is an essential or necessary part of a system or object.

  2. Music The first harmonic in a harmonic series; the lowest harmonic.

  3. Physics The lowest frequency of a periodically varying quantity or of a vibrating system.

fun'da·men'tal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: fun·da·men·tal
Pronunciation: "f&n-d&-'ment-&l
Function: noun
: the principal musical tone producedby vibration (as of a string or column of air) on which a series of higher overtones is based
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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