English Dictionary
Definition of “fundamental”
fundamental (ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəll
)
Definitions
adjective
- of, involving, or comprising a foundation; basic
- of, involving, or comprising a source; primary
- music denoting or relating to the principal or lowest note of a harmonic series
- of or concerned with the component of lowest frequency in a complex vibration
noun
- a principle, law, etc, that serves as the basis of an idea or system
- the principal or lowest note of a harmonic series
- the bass note of a chord in root position
- Also called fundamental frequencyfirst harmonicphysics
- the component of lowest frequency in a complex vibration
- the frequency of this component
Alternative Forms
ˌfundamenˈtality ˌfundaˈmentalness noun
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
central,
first,
most important
prime,
key,
necessary,
basic,
essential,
primary,
vital,
radical,
principal,
cardinal,
integral,
indispensable,
intrinsic,
Usage examples
But Bob saw things in black and white and Lee had broken some fundamental code.
Vanessa Jones, THE KINDEST USE A KNIFE (2002)But I don't believe in some a priori universality of fundamental rules or universal notions.
Spiked (2002)I accept that Mrs Collins has been justified in the most fundamental of these criticisms.
Irish Times (2002)I am certain that British voters want lower taxes, better schools, and fundamental reform of the National Health Service.
Glasgow Herald (2001)There is no telling when the slide might end because the fundamental cause continues: human aggression.
Michael Boulter, EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
