basket
gb/bˈæskət/ us/bˈæskət/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A woven container for carrying items
A container made by weaving thin strips of material, used to hold or carry things.
Usage pattern:
a basket of [things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'basket' with 'bag', but a basket is usually rigid and often woven.
Synonyms
hamper (Often used for a large basket for laundry or food, especially with a lid.)
|
container (A general term for anything that holds items; not necessarily woven.)
Antonyms
box (A rigid container, usually with flat sides and corners, as opposed to a flexible woven one.)
Collocations
laundry basket
|shopping basket
|picnic basket
|fruit basket
|waste basket
Themes
daily life
|shopping
|home
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She carried the apples home in a wicker basket.
- The picnic basket was full of sandwiches and fruit.
- He placed the dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
- The shop provides plastic baskets for customers.
- A beautiful flower basket was delivered to her office.
Learner examples
- The basket is full of bread.
- I put my clothes in the laundry basket.
- She has a small basket for fruit.
- The man carries a basket of fish.
Noun
A2
entity
2
A hoop and net in basketball
In basketball, the ring with a net where players throw the ball to get points.
Usage pattern:
score a basket
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'basket' (the goal) with 'basketball' (the game or the ball).
Synonyms
hoop (Informal term for the basketball goal.)
Antonyms
miss (Failing to score by not getting the ball through the hoop.)
Collocations
shoot a basket
|score a basket
|make a basket
|miss a basket
Themes
sports
Examples
- He scored three baskets in the first quarter.
- She made a perfect shot into the basket.
- The player missed an easy basket.
- The crowd cheered when the ball went through the basket.
Learner examples
- He makes a basket.
- The ball goes into the basket.
- She runs and shoots a basket.
- They try to make many baskets.
Noun
B1
entity
3
A group of related things together
A group of different but related things counted or used together.
Usage pattern:
a basket of [items]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this only means a physical container, but it can also mean an abstract group of things.
Synonyms
bundle (A group of things packaged or considered together; less formal in financial contexts.)
Antonyms
individual item (A single element rather than a group.)
Collocations
a basket of currencies
|product basket
|investment basket
Themes
business
|economics
|finance
Examples
- The company offers a basket of services to its clients.
- Investors can buy a basket of international stocks.
- The government monitors a basket of goods to measure inflation.
Learner examples
- I bought a basket of fruits.
- The shop sells a basket of tools.
- He has a basket of toys.
Grammar
Dictionary form
basket
IPA
GB/bˈæskət/
US/bˈæskət/
Syllables & stress
bas - ket (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: basket
- Plural: baskets
Word family
Forms
baskets
noun
Related words
basketball
noun A2
basketful
noun
Advanced or less common
basketry
noun
basketmaker
noun
Expressions
basket case
1/bˈæskət kˈeɪs/
idiom
informal
Someone or something unable to function properly
A person or thing that is very weak, sick, or unable to work because of problems.
Examples
- After the accident, he was an emotional basket case for months.
- The country's economy became a basket case after years of poor management.
case basket
1/kˈeɪs bˈæskət/
fixed phrase
informal
Container for carrying cases
A container designed to hold several cases (often bottles) for carrying or transport.
Examples
- He carried the soda bottles in a case basket.
- The delivery came in three case baskets.
put all your eggs in one basket
1/pˈʊt ˈɔl jˈʊɹ ˈɛɡz ˈɪn wˈʌn bˈæskət/
idiom
Rely completely on one thing
To risk everything on one plan, idea, or opportunity instead of having several options.
Examples
- Investing all your money in one company is putting all your eggs in one basket.
- Investing all your money in one company is like putting all your eggs in one basket.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—apply for several jobs.
- She put all her eggs in one basket by applying only to one university.