English Reference
noun

basket

n.
US /ˈbæskət/ UK /bˈɑːskɪt/ bas·ket UK spelling basket's, basket's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    a container made of thin pieces of wood, plastic, or wire woven together.

    a lightweight container, typically woven from organic or synthetic fibers, used for carrying or storing goods.

    Simple

    She carried a small basket filled with fresh apples from the garden.

    In context

    The artisan spent hours weaving the willow branches into a sturdy basket designed for heavy agricultural use.

    hamperbinpannier
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate British English Internet

    a list of items you have chosen to buy on a website before you pay.

    a virtual storage area in an e-commerce interface where a user aggregates items prior to checkout.

    Simple

    I added the shoes to my basket but decided not to buy them yet.

    In context

    The website's analytics showed a high rate of abandonment at the basket stage, suggesting the shipping costs were too high for most users.

    cartshopping cart
  3. 03 A2 Elementary Sport

    the net and hoop that players throw the ball through to score points.

    the elevated horizontal hoop and suspended net used as the goal in basketball.

    Simple

    The player jumped high and threw the ball right through the basket.

    In context

    The referee signaled a successful basket just seconds before the final buzzer sounded, securing a narrow victory for the home team.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the part of a hot air balloon where the pilot and passengers stand.

    the wicker gondola suspended beneath a hot air balloon to carry the crew and heat source.

    Simple

    We climbed into the basket and waited for the balloon to rise.

    In context

    The pilot checked the fuel lines connected to the burners before the passengers boarded the wicker basket for the sunrise flight.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced AcademicTechnical Economics

    a group of different things, like currencies or products, treated as one unit.

    a group or collection of different financial assets or commodities used as a benchmark or indicator.

    Simple

    The value of the currency is measured against a basket of other major currencies.

    In context

    Economists track the consumer price index by monitoring a representative basket of goods and services over a specific period.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency British EnglishInformalHumorous

    a slightly rude word for a person who is annoying or mean.

    a mild or euphemistic substitute for 'bastard' used to describe an unpleasant person.

    Simple

    He's a lazy old basket who never helps with the housework.

    In context

    The old man was known as a grumpy basket, though his neighbors suspected it was mostly an act to keep people away.

Put the laundry basket where clothes actually come off.

Phys.org· 9 Sept 2026

John Swinney has previously said he has a "public health responsibility" to ensure that people can afford a healthy basket of goods.

BBC News· 7 Sept 2026

Etymology tree Proto-Celtic *baskis Proto-Brythonicder. Late Latin bascauda Anglo-Norman bascatbor. Middle English basket English basket From Middle English basket, from Anglo-Norman baschet, basket, bascat, of obscure origin. One theory is that it derives from Late Latin bascauda (“kettle, table-vessel”), from Proto-Brythonic (in Breton baskodenn), from Proto-Celtic baskis (“bundle, load”), from purported Proto-Indo-European bʰask- (“bundle”), but this is now widely viewed as a substrate word for phonetic reasons. Related to Latin fascis (“bundle, package, load”) (whence English fasces), Albanian bokshe (“bundle”), Breton bac'h (“bundle, load”), Ancient Greek φάκελος (phákelos) and βάσκιοι (báskioi) (“bundle (of sticks)”); see also faggot (“(originally) bundle of sticks”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin cel-pro *baskis
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated