[syn: basal, primary]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Basal \Ba"sal\, a.
Relating to, or forming, the base.
[1913 Webster]
Basal cleavage. See under Cleavage.
Basal plane (Crystallog.), a plane parallel to the lateral
or horizontal axis.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
basal
adj 1: especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or
stem; especially arising directly from the root or
rootstock or a root-like stem; "basal placentation";
"radical leaves" [syn: radical, basal] [ant:
cauline]
2: serving as or forming a base; "the painter applied a base
coat followed by two finishing coats" [syn: basal, base]
3: of primary importance [syn: basal, primary]