'Fundamental' definitions:

Definition of 'fundamental'

From: WordNet
adjective
Serving as an essential component; "a cardinal rule"; "the central cause of the problem"; "an example that was fundamental to the argument"; "computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure" [syn: cardinal, central, fundamental, key, primal]
adjective
Being or involving basic facts or principles; "the fundamental laws of the universe"; "a fundamental incomatibility between them"; "these rudimentary truths"; "underlying principles" [syn: fundamental, rudimentary, underlying]
adjective
Far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something; "the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred"; "the book underwent fundamental changes"; "committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance"; "profound social changes" [syn: fundamental, profound]
noun
Any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business; "fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure"
noun
The lowest tone of a harmonic series [syn: fundamental, fundamental frequency, first harmonic]

Definition of 'Fundamental'

From: GCIDE
  • Fundamental \Fun"da*men`tal\, n. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of the Christian faith. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fundamental'

From: GCIDE
  • Fundamental \Fun`da*men"tal\, a. [Cf. F. fondamental.] Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation. Hence: Essential, as an element, principle, or law; important; original; elementary; as, a fundamental truth; a fundamental axiom. [1913 Webster]
  • The fundamental reasons of this war. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Some fundamental antithesis in nature. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
  • Fundamental bass (Mus.), the root note of a chord; a bass formed of the roots or fundamental tones of the chords.
  • Fundamental chord (Mus.), a chord, the lowest tone of which is its root.
  • Fundamental colors, red, green, and violet-blue. See Primary colors, under Color. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'fundamental'

From: Moby Thesaurus