► basic simple and more important or necessary than anything else:
The army is bringing water and other basic supplies to the towns that were destroyed by the flood.One basic rule of English grammar is that an adjective usually goes before a noun: a red car.► fundamental AWL relating to the most basic and important parts of something, which everything else depends on:
Reading is a fundamental skill that children must have in order to succeed in school.► essential relating to the most basic part or quality of something, which makes it what it is and makes it different from other things:
The essential difference between the human brain and a computer is the ability to feel emotions. ➔ GRAMMAR: When used with this meaning, essential is always used before a noun: Helping children to talk about their feelings is an essential part of what we do.► elementary (formal) relating to the most basic ideas in a subject:
Using a computer has become an elementary skill in most jobs.The class was in elementary biology.► underlying AWL an underlying cause or problem is the basic reason that something happens or exists:
When you are sick, doctors must find the underlying cause of your illness, for example being stressed or not eating well. ➔ GRAMMAR: Underlying is always used before a noun: Engineers are working to fix the underlying problem.► inherent AWL (formal) a quality or feature that is inherent in something is a basic and permanent part of it so that it cannot be changed:
One of the dangers inherent in having only one political party is that there is likely to be corruption.► intrinsic AWL (formal) an intrinsic quality is part of someone or something's basic character:
Technology has become an intrinsic part of our life.