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.
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.
The fundamental reasons of this
war.
Shak.
Some fundamental antithesis in
nature.
Whewell.
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.