3 N‑COUNT In basketball, the basket is a net hanging from a ring through which players try to throw the ball in order to score points. A basket is also the point scored when the ball is thrown through the ring.
4 → see also bread basket , hanging basket , wastepaper basket
5to put all your eggs in one basket → see egg
basket|ball /bɑː sk I tbɔːl, bæ s-/ (basketballs )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Basketball is a game in which two teams of five players each try to score goals by throwing a large ball through a circular net fixed to a metal ring at each end of the court.
2 N‑COUNT A basketball is a large ball which is used in the game of basketball.
ba s|ket case (basket cases )
1
N‑COUNT
If someone describes a country or organization as a
basket case
, they mean that its economy or finances are in a seriously bad state. [INFORMAL
] □
2
N‑COUNT
If you describe someone as a
basket case
, you think that they are insane. [INFORMAL
, DISAPPROVAL
] □
bas-relief /bɑː r I liː f, bæ s-/ (bas-reliefs )
1
N‑UNCOUNT
Bas-relief
is a technique of sculpture in which shapes are carved so that they stand out from the background. □
2
N‑COUNT
A
bas-relief
is a sculpture carved on a surface so that it stands out from the background. □
bass
◆◇◇ (basses
)
Pronounced /be
I
s/ for meanings 1
to 4
, and /bæ
s/ for meaning 5
. The plural of the noun in meaning 5
is
bass
.
1
N‑COUNT
A
bass
is a man with a very deep singing voice. □
2
ADJ
[ADJ
n] A
bass
drum, guitar, or other musical instrument is one that produces a very deep sound. □
3
N‑VAR
In popular music, a
bass
is a bass guitar or a
double bass
. □
4 N‑UNCOUNT On a stereo system or radio, the bass is the ability to reproduce the lower musical notes. The bass is also the knob which controls this.
5
N‑VAR
Bass
are edible fish that are found in rivers and the sea. There are several types of bass. □
bas|set hound /bæ s I t haʊnd/ (basset hounds ) N‑COUNT A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting.
bass|ist /be I s I st/ (bassists ) N‑COUNT A bassist is someone who plays the bass guitar or the double bass.
bas|soon /bəsuː n/ (bassoons ) N‑VAR A bassoon is a large musical instrument of the woodwind family that is shaped like a tube and played by blowing into a curved metal pipe.
bas|soon|ist /bəsuː n I st/ (bassoonists ) N‑COUNT A bassoonist is someone who plays the bassoon.
bas|tard /bɑː stə r d, bæ s-/ (bastards )
1 N‑COUNT Bastard is an insulting word which some people use about a person, especially a man, who has behaved very badly. [RUDE , OFFENSIVE , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A bastard is a person whose parents were not married to each other at the time that he or she was born. This use could cause offence. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bas|tard|ized /bɑː stə r da I zd, bæ s-/ in BRIT, also use bastardised ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you refer to something as a bastardized form of something else, you mean that the first thing is similar to or copied from the second thing, but is of much poorer quality. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
baste
/be
I
st/ (bastes
, basting
, basted
) VERB
If you
baste
meat, you pour hot fat and the juices from the meat itself over it while it is cooking. □ [V
n]