 In general, clade "A" is more basal than clade "B" if "B" is a subgroup of the sister group of "A" or of "A" itself.Within large groups, "basal" may be used loosely to mean 'closer to the root than the great majority of', and in this context terminology such as "very basal" may arise.A 'core clade' is a clade representing all but the basal clade(s) of lowest rank within a larger clade; e.g., core eudicots.