base

¹

[ beys ]

noun

1. the bottom support of anything; that on which a thing stands or rests:

   a metal base for the table.

2. a fundamental principle or groundwork; foundation; basis:

   the base of needed reforms.

3. the bottom layer or coating, as of makeup or paint.
4. Architecture.
   1. the distinctively treated portion of a column or pier below the shaft or shafts.
   2. the distinctively treated lowermost portion of any construction, as a monument, exterior wall, etc.
5. Botany, Zoology.
   1. the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment.
   2. the point of attachment.
6. the principal element or ingredient of anything, considered as its fundamental part:

   face cream with a lanolin base;

   paint with a lead base.

7. that from which a commencement, as of action or reckoning, is made; a starting point or point of departure.
8. the main supporters or fans of a political candidate, celebrity, company, etc.:

   Her proposed policies are calculated to appeal to her base.

9. Baseball.
   1. any of the four corners of the diamond, especially first, second, or third base. Compare home plate.
   2. a square canvas sack containing sawdust or some other light material, for marking first, second, or third base.
10. a starting line or point for runners, racing cars, etc.
11. (in hockey and other games) the goal.
12. Military.
    1. a fortified or more or less protected area or place from which the operations of an army or an air force proceed.
    2. a supply installation for a large military force.
13. Geometry. the line or surface forming the part of a figure that is most nearly horizontal or on which it is supposed to stand.
14. Mathematics.
    1. the number that serves as a starting point for a logarithmic or other numerical system.
    2. a collection of subsets of a topological space having the property that every open set in the given topology can be written as the union of sets of the collection.
    3. a collection of neighborhoods of a point such that every neighborhood of the point contains one from the collection.
    4. a collection of sets of a given filter such that every set in the filter is contained in some set in the collection.
15. Also called base line. Surveying. triangulation1
16. Painting.
    1. vehicle ( def 10 ).
    2. Also called carrier. inert matter, used in the preparation of lakes, onto which a coloring compound is precipitated.
17. Photography. a thin, flexible layer of cellulose triacetate or similar material that holds the light-sensitive film emulsion and other coatings, especially on motion-picture film.
18. Chemistry.
    1. a compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt, as ammonia, calcium hydroxide, or certain nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
    2. the hydroxide of a metal or of an electropositive element or group.
    3. a group or molecule that takes up or accepts protons.
    4. a molecule or ion containing an atom with a free pair of electrons that can be donated to an acid; an electron-pair donor.
    5. any of the purine and pyrimidine compounds found in nucleic acids: the purines adenine and guanine and the pyrimidines cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
19. Grammar. the part of a complex word, consisting of one or more morphemes, to which derivational or inflectional affixes may be added, as want in unwanted or biolog- in biological. Compare root ¹( def 12 ), stem ¹( def 16 ).
20. Linguistics. the component of a generative grammar containing the lexicon and phrase-structure rules that generate the deep structure of sentences.
21. Electronics.
    1. an electrode or terminal on a transistor other than the emitter or collector electrodes or terminals.
    2. the part of an incandescent lamp or electron tube that includes the terminals for making electrical connection to a circuit or power supply.
22. Stock Exchange. the level at which a security ceases a decline in price.
23. Heraldry. the lower part of an escutcheon.
24. bases, Armor. a tonlet formed of two shaped steel plates assembled side by side.
25. Jewelry. pavilion ( def 6 ).
26. in base, Heraldry. in the lower part of an escutcheon.

adjective

1. serving as or forming a base:

   The walls will need a base coat and two finishing coats.

verb (used with object)

, based, bas·ing.

1. to make or form a base or foundation for.
2. to establish, as a fact or conclusion (usually followed by on or upon ):

   He based his assumption of her guilt on the fact that she had no alibi.

3. to place or establish on a base or basis; ground; found (usually followed by on or upon ):

   Our plan is based on a rising economy.

4. to station, place, or situate (usually followed by at or on ):

   He is based at Fort Benning. The squadron is based on a carrier.

verb (used without object)

, based, bas·ing.

1. to have a basis; be based (usually followed by on or upon ):

   Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.

2. to have or maintain a base:

   I believe they had based on Greenland at one time.

base

²

[ beys ]

adjective

, bas·er, bas·est.

1. morally low; without estimable personal qualities; dishonorable; meanspirited; selfish; cowardly.

   Synonyms: contemptible, despicable

2. of little or no value; worthless:

   hastily composed of base materials.

   Synonyms: tawdry, cheap, inferior, poor

3. debased or counterfeit:

   an attempt to eliminate the base coinage.

   Synonyms: spurious, fake

4. characteristic of or befitting an inferior person or thing.

   Synonyms: menial, lowly, ignoble, humble

5. of illegitimate birth.
6. not classical or refined:

   base language.

7. Old English Law. held by tenure less than freehold in return for a service viewed as somewhat demeaning to the tenant.
8. Archaic.
   1. of humble origin or station.
   2. of small height.
   3. low in place, position, or degree:

      base servitude.

9. Obsolete. deep or grave in sound; bass:

   the base tones of a piano.

noun

1. Music Obsolete. bass ¹( defs 3, 4 ).

base

¹

/ beɪs /

adjective

1. devoid of honour or morality; ignoble; contemptible
2. of inferior quality or value
3. debased; alloyed; counterfeit

   base currency

4. English history
   1. (of land tenure) held by villein or other ignoble service
   2. holding land by villein or other ignoble service
5. archaic.
   born of humble parents; plebeian
6. archaic.
   illegitimate

adjective

1. music an obsolete spelling of bass 1

base

²

/ beɪs /

noun

1. the bottom or supporting part of anything
2. the fundamental or underlying principle or part, as of an idea, system, or organization; basis
3. 1. a centre of operations, organization, or supply

      the climbers made a base at 8000 feet

   2. ( as modifier )

      base camp

4. a centre from which military activities are coordinated
5. anything from which a process, as of measurement, action, or thought, is or may be begun; starting point

   the new discovery became the base for further research

6. the main ingredient of a mixture

   to use rice as a base in cookery

7. a chemical compound that combines with an acid to form a salt and water. A solution of a base in water turns litmus paper blue, produces hydroxyl ions, and has a pH greater than 7. Bases are metal oxides or hydroxides or amines See also Lewis base
8. biochem any of the nitrogen-containing constituents of nucleic acids: adenine, thymine (in DNA), uracil (in RNA), guanine, or cytosine
9. a medium such as oil or water in which the pigment is dispersed in paints, inks, etc; vehicle
10. the inorganic material on which the dye is absorbed in lake pigments; carrier
11. biology
    1. the part of an organ nearest to its point of attachment
    2. the point of attachment of an organ or part
12. the bottommost layer or part of anything
13. architect
    1. the lowest division of a building or structure
    2. the lower part of a column or pier
14. another word for baseline
15. the lower side or face of a geometric construction
16. maths
    1. the number of distinct single-digit numbers in a counting system, and so the number represented as 10 in a place-value system See place-value

       the binary system has two digits, 0 and 1, and 10 to base two represents 2

    2. (of a logarithm or exponential) the number whose powers are expressed

       since 1000 = 10³, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3

    3. (of a mathematical structure) a substructure from which the given system can be generated
    4. the initial instance from which a generalization is proven by mathematical induction
17. Also calledbase clause logic maths the initial element of a recursive definition, that defines the first element of the infinite sequence generated thereby
18. linguistics
    1. a root or stem
    2. See base component
19. electronics the region in a transistor between the emitter and collector
20. photog the glass, paper, or cellulose-ester film that supports the sensitized emulsion with which it is coated
21. heraldry the lower part of the shield
22. jewellery the quality factor used in pricing natural pearls
23. a starting or finishing point in any of various games
24. baseball any of the four corners of the diamond, which runners have to reach in order to score
25. the main source of a certain commodity or element

    their fan base

    a customer base

26. get to first base informal.
    to accomplish the first stage in a project or a series of objectives
27. off base informal.
    wrong or badly mistaken
28. touch base
    to make contact

verb

1. tr foll by on or upon to use as a basis (for); found (on)

   your criticisms are based on ignorance

2. often foll byat or in to station, post, or place (a person or oneself)

base

/ bās /

1. Chemistry.
   1. Any of a class of compounds that form hydroxyl ions (OH) when dissolved in water, and whose aqueous solutions react with acids to form salts. Bases turn red litmus paper blue and have a pH greater than 7. Their aqueous solutions have a bitter taste.
   2. See nitrogen base
2. Mathematics.
   1. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn. The base can be, but is not always, the bottom part of the figure.
   2. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
   3. The number that is raised to a particular power in a given mathematical expression. In the expression a ⁿ, a is the base.

base

1. Any of a number of bitter-tasting, caustic materials. Technically, a material that produces negative ions in solution . A base is the opposite of an acid and has a pH of 7 to 14. A given amount of a base added to the same amount of an acid neutralizes the acid; water and a salt are produced. Alkalis are bases; ammonia is a common base.

Derived Forms

• ˈbasely, adverb
• ˈbaseness, noun

Other Words From

• base·ly adverb
• base·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of base¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun base, bas, bace, from Old French base, basse, from Latin basis basis

Origin of base²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bas, from Old French, from Late Latin bassus “low, short,” perhaps of Oscan origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of base¹

C14: from Old French bas , from Late Latin bassus of low height, perhaps from Greek bassōn deeper

Origin of base²

C14: from Old French, from Latin basis pedestal; see basis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off base,
   1. Baseball. not touching a base:

      The pitcher caught him off base and, after a quick throw, he was put out by the second baseman.

   2. Informal. badly mistaken:

      The police were way off base when they tried to accuse her of the theft.

2. on base, Baseball. having reached a base or bases:

   Two men are on base.

3. get to first base. first base ( def 2 ).
4. touch base. touch base ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing base

see get to first base ; off base ; touch base .

Synonym Study

Base, basis, foundation refer to anything upon which a structure is built and upon which it rests. Base usually refers to a literal supporting structure: the base of a statue. Basis more often refers to a figurative support: the basis of a report. Foundation implies a solid, secure understructure: the foundation of a skyscraper or a rumor.

See mean ².

Example Sentences

It is based on the interaction between the sender and the receiver.

From Eater

Our country is based on that, and I think it’s going to happen pretty quickly.

From Washington Post

Ever since, though, he had completed fewer passes than we’d expect based on the characteristics of the throws he attempted — until now.

From FiveThirtyEight

Especially on the coronavirus, he is playing to his base above all else.

From Washington Post

She got 35 percent of the vote after spending less than $200,000, revealing that there was a base for left-wing politics in a state politically dominated by moderate suburbanites.

From Washington Post

Paperback publishers distributed their titles in African-American neighborhoods because it expanded their market base.

From The Daily Beast

If ISIS “came into a base and killed hundreds of troops, then people would ask a lot more questions.”

From The Daily Beast

Huckabee will also need to establish a reliable fundraising base, something that up until now has proved to be elusive.

From The Daily Beast

Both are considered marginal figures in the House GOP caucus and have no real base of support for their respective bids.

From The Daily Beast

In the weeks following the Sept. 9, car bombing at the Iranian base, Iran raided a village in the Pakistani district of Chagai.

From The Daily Beast

The upper part of the stem is usually unbranched, but whorls of branches occur towards the base.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a vile world because it is an under-educated world, unreasonable, suspicious, base and ferocious.

From Project Gutenberg

In ordinary work, however, it is safer to base the distinction upon size than upon structure.

From Project Gutenberg

If he married that base-born creature Dorothy, no respectable person would ever enter the house.

From Project Gutenberg

There might be in the school boys base enough to charge that he lacked spirit in his attitude of armed neutrality.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• paltry