Part 542

6. (Geol.) An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; -- especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields.

Ba"sined (&?;), a. Inclosed in a basin. "Basined rivers." Young.

Bas"i*net (&?;), n. Same as Bascinet.

Ba`si*oc*cip"i*tal (&?;), a. [Basi- + occipital.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bone in the base of the cranium, frequently forming a part of the occipital in the adult, but usually distinct in the young. -- n. The basioccipital bone.

||Ba"si*on (&?;), n. [Gr. ba`sis a base.] (Anat.) The middle of the anterior margin of the great foramen of the skull.

Ba*sip"o*dite (&?;), n. [Basi- + poy`s, podo`s foot.] (Anat.) The basal joint of the legs of Crustacea.

||Ba*sip`te*ryg"i*um (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ba`sis a base + ptery`gion a fin.] (Anat.) A bar of cartilage at the base of the embryonic fins of some fishes. It develops into the metapterygium. -- Ba*sip`ter*yg"i*al (&?;), a.

Ba`sip*ter"y*goid (&?;), a. & n. [Basi- + pterygoid.] (Anat.) Applied to a protuberance of the base of the sphenoid bone.

Ba"sis (b"ss), n.; pl. Bases (-sz). [L. basis, Gr. ba`sis. See Base, n.] 1. The foundation of anything; that on which a thing rests. Dryden.

2. The pedestal of a column, pillar, or statue. [Obs.]

If no basis bear my rising name. Pope.

<! p. 123 pr=SA !>

3. The groundwork; the first or fundamental principle; that which supports.

The basis of public credit is good faith. A. Hamilton.

4. The principal component part of a thing.

Ba*sis"o*lute (b*ss"*lt), a. [Basi- + solute, a.] (Bot.) Prolonged at the base, as certain leaves.

{ Ba`si*sphe"noid (&?;), Ba`si*sphe*noid"al (&?;), } a. [Basi- + sphenoid.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to that part of the base of the cranium between the basioccipital and the presphenoid, which usually ossifies separately in the embryo or in the young, and becomes a part of the sphenoid in the adult.

Ba`si*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.) The basisphenoid bone.

Bask (bsk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basked (bskt); p. pr. & vb. n. Basking.] [OScand. baðask to bathe one's self, or perh. bakask to bake one's self, sk being reflexive. See Bath, n., Bake, v. t.] To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat.

Basks in the glare, and stems the tepid wave. Goldsmith.

Bask, v. t. To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat.

Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton.

Bas"ket (&?;), n. [Of unknown origin. The modern Celtic words seem to be from the English.] 1. A vessel made of osiers or other twigs, cane, rushes, splints, or other flexible material, interwoven. "Rude baskets . . . woven of the flexile willow." Dyer.

2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket contains; as, a basket of peaches.

3. (Arch.) The bell or vase of the Corinthian capital. [Improperly so used.] Gwilt.

4. The two back seats facing one another on the outside of a stagecoach. [Eng.] Goldsmith.

Basket fish (Zoöl.), an ophiuran of the genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See Astrophyton. -- Basket hilt, a hilt with a covering wrought like basketwork to protect the hand. Hudibras. Hence, Basket-hilted, a. -- Basket work, work consisting of plaited osiers or twigs. -- Basket worm (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of the genus Thyridopteryx and allied genera, esp. T. ephemeræformis. The larva makes and carries about a bag or basket-like case of silk and twigs, which it afterwards hangs up to shelter the pupa and wingless adult females.

Bas"ket, v. t. To put into a basket. [R.]