Basket

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: bäs'kÄ­t, IPA: /ˈbɑːskɪt/
• AU enPR: bäs'kÉ™t, IPA: /ˈbaːskÉ™t/
• US enPR: băs'kÄ­t, IPA: /ˈbæskɪt/

Origin

From Anglo-Norman bascat, from Late Latin bascauda ("kettle, table-vessel"), from Common Brittonic, from Proto-Celtic *baski ("bundle, load"), from Proto-Indo-European *bÊ°ask- ("bundle").

Noun

1. A lightweight container, generally round, open at the top, and tapering toward the bottom.
   A basket of fake fruit adorned the table.
2. A wire or plastic container similar in shape to a basket, used for carrying articles for purchase in a shop.
3. In an online shop, a notional place to store items before ordering them.
4. (basketball) A circular hoop, from which a net is suspended, which is the goal through which the players try to throw the ball.
   The point guard drove toward the basket.
5. (basketball) The act of putting the ball through the basket, thereby scoring points.
   The last-second basket sealed the victory.
6. The game of basketball.
   Let's play some basket.
7. A dance movement in some line dances, where men put their arms round the women's lower backs, and the women put their arms over the mens' shoulders, and the group (usually of four, any more is difficult) spins round, which should result in the women's feet leaving the ground.
8. (UK, slang) Genitals.
9. (obsolete) In a stage-coach, two outside seats facing each other.
• 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, In my time, the follies of the town crept slowly among us, but now they travel faster than a stage-coach. Its fopperies come down not only as inside passengers, but in the very basket.
10. (archaic) A protection for the hand on a sword or a singlestick; a guard of a bladed weapon.
1. A singlestick with a basket hilt.
• 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, Baw! damme, but I'll fight you both, one after the other——with baskets.
11. (ballooning) Where the pilot and passengers are.
• 2013-06-07, David Simpson, Fantasy of navigation, Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.
12. (architecture) The bell or vase of the Corinthian capital.

Synonyms

• (container used in a shop) cart, shopping basket, shopping cart
• (storage place for online items) cart, shopping basket, shopping cart
• (basketball) basketball, hoops

Derived terms

Full definition of basket

Verb

1. To place in a basket or in baskets.----