Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - basics

1. The basics of something are its simplest, most important elements, ideas, or principles, in contrast to more complicated or detailed ones. They will concentrate on teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic... A strong community cannot be built until the basics are in place... Let’s get down to basics and stop horsing around. = fundamentals N-PLURAL: usu the N, oft N of n 2. Basics are things such as simple food, clothes, or equipment that people need in order to live or to deal with a particular situation. ...supplies of basics such as bread and milk. ...items that are the basics of a stylish wardrobe. N-PLURAL 3. If you talk about getting back to basics, you are suggesting that people have become too concerned with complicated details or new theories, and that they should concentrate on simple, important ideas or activities. ...a new ‘back-to-basics’ drive to raise standards of literacy in Britain’s schools. PHRASE: usu PHR after v, PHR n