2) rationale. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...1. Fundamental reasons; the basis. 2. An exposition of principles or reasons. Late Latin rationle, from neuter of Latin rationlis, rational. See rational....

3) lexeme. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...The fundamental unit of the lexicon of a language. Find, finds, found, and finding are forms of the English lexeme find. lex(icon) + -eme....

4) fundamental. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...1a. Of or relating to the foundation or base; elementary: the fundamental laws of the universe. b. Forming or serving as an essential component of a system or structure;...

5) civil liberties. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...Fundamental individual rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, protected by law against unwarranted governmental or other interference....

6) strong interaction. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...A fundamental interaction between elementary particles that causes protons and neutrons to bind together in the atomic nucleus. Also called strong force....

7) weak interaction. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...A fundamental interaction between elementary particles that is several orders of magnitude weaker than the electromagnetic interaction and is responsible for some...

8) bit 3. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...Computer Science A fundamental unit of information having just two possible values, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1. Blend of b(inary) and (dig)it....

9) yard 1. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...1. abbr. yd. A fundamental unit of length in both the U.S. Customary System and the British Imperial System, equal to 3 feet, or 36 inches (0.9144 meter). See table...

10) rudiment. The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...1. A fundamental element, principle, or skill, as of a field of learning. Often used in the plural. 2. Something in an incipient or undeveloped form. Often used in...