# Basque

/ˈbæsk/ (US) · /bˈæsk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/basque
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a person

noun · CEFR B1

a person from the region in the western Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France.

For teachers: a member of an ethnic group inhabiting the western Pyrenees and the adjacent coastal regions of northern Spain and southwestern France.

- Many Basques have lived in this mountain village for generations.
- The Basques have maintained a distinct cultural identity for centuries, largely due to their unique language and geographical isolation in the Pyrenees.

### 2. the language

noun · CEFR B2

the unique language spoken by people in the Basque Country.

For teachers: the language of the Basque people, which is a language isolate unrelated to any other known living language.

- Basque is a very difficult language to learn because it is not related to Spanish or French.
- Linguists are fascinated by Basque because it predates the arrival of Indo-European languages in Western Europe.

### 3. clothing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tight-fitting piece of women's clothing that covers the top of the body and reaches down over the hips.

For teachers: a woman's close-fitting bodice or item of lingerie that extends below the waistline to cover the hips.

- She wore a lace basque under her wedding dress.
- The fashion designer's new collection featured a modern take on the traditional silk basque, emphasizing a structured silhouette.

### 4. relating to the people or language

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to the Basque people, their culture, or their language.

For teachers: pertaining to the Basque people, their culture, or their language isolate.

- We enjoyed some delicious Basque food while visiting the city of Bilbao.
- The Basque separatist movement was a significant political issue in Spain for several decades.

## Examples

- She wore a black lace basque under her dress.
- The designer's new collection features several vintage-inspired basques made from silk and satin.
- In historical fashion, the basque was a bodice with a short skirt-like extension, though modern usage almost exclusively refers to a structured item of intimate apparel.

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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.