Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

basics

 noun
     
ba‧sics [plural]
1 the most important and necessary facts about something, from which other possibilities and ideas may develop
basics of
the basics of French grammar
Here are some of the basics you will need to know.
2 things which everyone needs in order to live or to deal with a particular situation:
basics like food and education
3

back to basics

used to describe a return to teaching or doing the most important or simplest things:
A lot of parents want schools to get back to basics.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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