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Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Fundamental

/fŭnˌ-dəm-ĕn'-təl/ · Fun·da·men·tal · IPA /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/
01 a. Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation.
  1. 1.
    Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation.
    “The fundamental reasons of this war.” — Shak.
    “Some fundamental antithesis in nature.” — Whewell.
Phrases & compounds
Fundamental bass — the root note of a chord; a bass formed of the roots or fundamental tones of the chords.
Fundamental chord — a chord, the lowest tone of which is its root.
Fundamental colors — red, green, and violet-blue. See Primary colors, under Color.
02 n. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of …
  1. 1.
    A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of the Christian faith.