# basket

/ˈbæskət/ (US) · /bˈɑːskɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/basket
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a container

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She carried a small basket filled with fresh apples from the garden.
- The artisan spent hours weaving the willow branches into a sturdy basket designed for heavy agricultural use.

### 2. online shopping

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

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

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

- I added the shoes to my basket but decided not to buy them yet.
- The website's analytics showed a high rate of abandonment at the basket stage, suggesting the shipping costs were too high for most users.

### 3. basketball goal

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The player jumped high and threw the ball right through the basket.
- The referee signaled a successful basket just seconds before the final buzzer sounded, securing a narrow victory for the home team.

### 4. hot air balloon

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- We climbed into the basket and waited for the balloon to rise.
- The pilot checked the fuel lines connected to the burners before the passengers boarded the wicker basket for the sunrise flight.

### 5. economic group

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

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

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

- The value of the currency is measured against a basket of other major currencies.
- Economists track the consumer price index by monitoring a representative basket of goods and services over a specific period.

### 6. insult

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal · Humorous

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

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

- He's a lazy old basket who never helps with the housework.
- The old man was known as a grumpy basket, though his neighbors suspected it was mostly an act to keep people away.

## Examples

- She carries a small basket of fresh apples.
- The shopper filled her wire basket with groceries before heading to the checkout counter.
- The artisan spent hours weaving the willow branches into a sturdy basket, ensuring the base was reinforced to support the weight of the harvest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.