a. [f. BASE sb.1 + -IC.]

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  1.  Of, pertaining to, or forming a base; fundamental, essential: spec. in Arch., and in Chem.

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1842.  W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 146. The amount of heat produced is determined by the basic ingredient.

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1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, v. 141. Its capital resting … on its basic plinth.

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1869.  Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 67. Basic oxides or bases act upon acids to form salts.

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1884.  Harper’s Mag., April, 770/2. This is Miss Hill’s basic principle.

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  2.  Having the base in excess. a. Chem. (A salt) Having the amount of the base atomically greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in proportion that of the related neutral salt. b. Min. (An igneous rock) Having little silica in proportion to the amount of lime, potash, magnesia, etc., present.

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1854.  Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Chem. 400. The class of subsalts is now generally termed basic salts, because the base predominates.

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1876.  trans. Wagner’s Gen. Pathol., 319. Neutral or basic phosphates of the alkalies.

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1877.  Green, Phys. Geol., ii. § 5. 47. The Poorly Silicated or Basic rocks.

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  c.  Applied to an improved ‘Bessemer’ process of steel-manufacture, in which phosphorus is eliminated from the pig-iron by the use of non-silicious materials (e.g., limestone, dolomite, magnesia) for the lining of the converters, and for introduction in the course of the ‘blow’; hence also applied to the steel thus produced, etc.

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1880.  Roberts, Introd. Lect. Metallurgy, 20. The practical application of basic linings in the Bessemer converter.

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1883.  Birmghm. Weekly Post, 18 Aug., 8/2. Basic steel and ingot iron, made from phosphoric pig.

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  See also MONOBASIC, BIBASIC, TRIBASIC.

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