basket

[ bas-kit ]

noun

1. a container made of twigs, rushes, thin strips of wood, or other flexible material woven together.
2. a container made of pieces of thin veneer, used for packing berries, vegetables, etc.
3. the amount contained in a basket; a basketful:

   to pick a basket of apples.

4. anything like a basket in shape or use:

   He never empties my wastepaper basket.

5. any group of things or different things grouped as a unit; a package; package deal:

   You can't buy the single stock; you have to take the basket—all companies, stocks and bonds.

6. the car or gondola suspended beneath a balloon, as for carrying passengers or scientific instruments into the atmosphere.
7. Basketball.
   1. an open net suspended from a metal rim attached to the backboard and through which the ball must pass in order for a player to score points.
   2. a score, counting two for a field goal and one for a free throw.
8. Also called snow ring. Skiing. a ring strapped to the base of a ski pole to limit penetration of the pole in the snow.
9. Slang: Vulgar. the male genitals, especially when outlined by a tight-fitting garment.

basket

/ ˈbɑːskɪt /

noun

1. a container made of interwoven strips of pliable materials, such as cane, straw, thin wood, or plastic, and often carried by means of a handle or handles
2. Also calledbasketful the amount a basket will hold
3. something resembling such a container in appearance or function, such as the structure suspended from a balloon
4. basketball
   1. an open horizontal metal hoop fixed to the backboard, through which a player must throw the ball to score points
   2. a point or points scored in this way
5. a group or collection of similar of related things

   a basket of currencies

6. informal.
   a euphemism for bastard bastard
7. the list of items an internet shopper chooses to buy at one time from a website

   add these items to your basket

Other Words From

• bas·ket·like adjective
• un·bas·ket·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basket¹

1250–1300; Middle English basket ( te ) < early Romance *baskauta (> French dialect bâchot, bachou wooden or interwoven vessel, Old High German baskiza box) < Latin bascauda basin, perhaps < British Celtic

Word History and Origins

Origin of basket¹

C13: probably from Old Northern French baskot (unattested), from Latin bascauda basketwork holder, of Celtic origin

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with basket , also see put all one's eggs in one basket .

Example Sentences

Another employee said they became suspicious when he "entered the store without a basket or trolley", and went "straight to the alcohol aisle".

From BBC

A constant lob threat, Mara could flourish in the pick and roll and has developed a variety of moves around the basket including jump hooks and drop steps.

From Los Angeles Times

This virtual "basket of goods" is regularly updated to reflect shopping trends, with vinyl records and air fryers added in 2024, and hand sanitiser removed.

From BBC

Karen’s viral acts include calling the police on a young Black girl selling water on her block, throwing her grocery basket at Trader Joe’s employees when asked to wear a mask during the pandemic and calling the police on a Black family who dared to barbecue in the park.

From Los Angeles Times

Hillary Clinton called them a “basket of deplorables” in 2016, and Joe Biden called them “garbage” mere days ago.

From Slate

Related Words

• box
• crate