Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fundamental \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}.