base

[ beys ]

/ beɪs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR base ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the bottom support of anything; that on which a thing stands or rests: a metal base for the table.

a fundamental principle or groundwork; foundation; basis: the base of needed reforms.

the bottom layer or coating, as of makeup or paint.

Architecture.

the distinctively treated portion of a column or pier below the shaft or shafts.
the distinctively treated lowermost portion of any construction, as a monument, exterior wall, etc.

Botany, Zoology.

the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment.
the point of attachment.

the principal element or ingredient of anything, considered as its fundamental part: face cream with a lanolin base; paint with a lead base.

that from which a commencement, as of action or reckoning, is made; a starting point or point of departure.

Baseball.

any of the four corners of the diamond, especially first, second, or third base.Compare home plate.
a square canvas sack containing sawdust or some other light material, for marking first, second, or third base.

a starting line or point for runners, racing cars, etc.

(in hockey and other games) the goal.

Military.

a fortified or more or less protected area or place from which the operations of an army or an air force proceed.
a supply installation for a large military force.

Geometry. the line or surface forming the part of a figure that is most nearly horizontal or on which it is supposed to stand.

Mathematics.

the number that serves as a starting point for a logarithmic or other numerical system.
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.
a collection of neighborhoods of a point such that every neighborhood of the point contains one from the collection.
a collection of sets of a given filter such that every set in the filter is contained in some set in the collection.

Also called base line. Surveying. See under triangulation(def 1).

Painting.

vehicle(def 10).
Also called carrier. inert matter, used in the preparation of lakes, onto which a coloring compound is precipitated.

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.

Chemistry.

a compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt, as ammonia, calcium hydroxide, or certain nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
the hydroxide of a metal or of an electropositive element or group.
a group or molecule that takes up or accepts protons.
a molecule or ion containing an atom with a free pair of electrons that can be donated to an acid; an electron-pair donor.
any of the purine and pyrimidine compounds found in nucleic acids: the purines adenine and guanine and the pyrimidines cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

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 root¹(def 12), stem¹(def 16).

Linguistics. the component of a generative grammar containing the lexicon and phrase-structure rules that generate the deep structure of sentences.

Electronics.

an electrode or terminal on a transistor other than the emitter or collector electrodes or terminals.
the part of an incandescent lamp or electron tube that includes the terminals for making electrical connection to a circuit or power supply.

Stock Exchange. the level at which a security ceases a decline in price.

Heraldry. the lower part of an escutcheon.

bases, Armor. a tonlet formed of two shaped steel plates assembled side by side.

Jewelry. pavilion(def 6).

in base, Heraldry. in the lower part of an escutcheon.

adjective

serving as or forming a base: The walls will need a base coat and two finishing coats.

verb (used with object), based, bas·ing.

to make or form a base or foundation for.

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.

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.

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.

to have a basis; be based (usually followed by on or upon): Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.

to have or maintain a base: I believe they had based on Greenland at one time.

Idioms for base

get to first base. first base(def 2).

off base,

Baseball. not touching a base: The pitcher caught him off base and, after a quick throw, he was put out by the second baseman.
Informal. badly mistaken: The police were way off base when they tried to accuse her of the theft.

on base, Baseball. having reached a base or bases: Two men are on base.

touch base with, to make contact with: They've touched base with every political group on campus.

Origin of base

1275–1325; Middle English (noun) < Middle French < Latin basis basis; cf. prisoner's base

synonym study for base

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM base

un·based, adjective well-based, adjective

Words nearby base

basalt, basaltware, basanite, bascinet, bascule, base, base box, base bullion, base camp, base community, base component

Example sentences from the Web for based

AirAsia Indonesia, which operated Flight 8501, is the Indonesian subsidiary of AirAsia, which is based in Malaysia.

Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 |Clive Irving |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
An 18-year-old Swedish rapper/Internet meme has inspired legions of impressionable teens to get based in bucket hats.

The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’ |Marlow Stern |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Based on a true story” is film code for “this may or may not have happened, but almost certainly not in this way.

Wrestler Mark Schultz Hates the ‘Sickening and Insulting Lies’ of ‘Foxcatcher’ |Rich Goldstein |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The latest disappearance is another huge aviation blow for Malaysia, where both Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia are based.

The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370 |Lennox Samuels |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Based on the hat he had created for himself, Stetson made a version called “The Boss of the Plains.”

My Love Letter to the Stetson |Mark McKinnon |December 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
For his whole theory of cavalry tactics is based on the realisation that massive formations are now hopelessly out of date.

Sir John French |Cecil Chisholm
At all events, his prediction was not based upon any such precise knowledge as that of the modern astronomer.

A History of Science, Volume 1(of 5) |Henry Smith Williams
The chapters which fall within the line of our inquiry are based chiefly on a comparison between Western Europe and India.

Villainage in England |Paul Vinogradoff
Page 423: January 1569 was printed as January 1659 and has been changed here, based on the dates earlier in the same sentence.

A History of Inventions, Discoveries, and Origins, Volume II (of 2) |Johann Beckman
If our republicanism is based on other foundation than justice and humanity, let it fall forever.

The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII) |John Greenleaf Whittier

British Dictionary definitions for based (1 of 2)

base ¹

/ (beɪs) /

noun

the bottom or supporting part of anything

the fundamental or underlying principle or part, as of an idea, system, or organization; basis

a centre of operations, organization, or supplythe climbers made a base at 8000 feet
(as modifier)base camp

a centre from which military activities are coordinated

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

the main ingredient of a mixture to use rice as a base in cookery

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

biochem any of the nitrogen-containing constituents of nucleic acids: adenine, thymine (in DNA), uracil (in RNA), guanine, or cytosine

a medium such as oil or water in which the pigment is dispersed in paints, inks, etc; vehicle

the inorganic material on which the dye is absorbed in lake pigments; carrier

biology

the part of an organ nearest to its point of attachment
the point of attachment of an organ or part

the bottommost layer or part of anything

architect

the lowest division of a building or structure
the lower part of a column or pier

another word for baseline (def. 2)

the lower side or face of a geometric construction

maths

the number of distinct single-digit numbers in a counting system, and so the number represented as 10 in a place-value systemthe binary system has two digits, 0 and 1, and 10 to base two represents 2 See place-value
(of a logarithm or exponential) the number whose powers are expressedsince 1000 = 10³, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3
(of a mathematical structure) a substructure from which the given system can be generated
the initial instance from which a generalization is proven by mathematical induction

Also called: base clause logic maths the initial element of a recursive definition, that defines the first element of the infinite sequence generated thereby

linguistics

a root or stem
See base component

electronics the region in a transistor between the emitter and collector

photog the glass, paper, or cellulose-ester film that supports the sensitized emulsion with which it is coated

heraldry the lower part of the shield

jewellery the quality factor used in pricing natural pearls

a starting or finishing point in any of various games

baseball any of the four corners of the diamond, which runners have to reach in order to score

the main source of a certain commodity or element a customer base; their fan base

get to first base US and Canadian informal to accomplish the first stage in a project or a series of objectives

off base US and Canadian informal wrong or badly mistaken

touch base to make contact

verb

(tr foll by on or upon) to use as a basis (for); found (on) your criticisms are based on ignorance

(often foll by at or in) to station, post, or place (a person or oneself)

Word Origin for base

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

British Dictionary definitions for based (2 of 2)

base ²

/ (beɪs) /

adjective

devoid of honour or morality; ignoble; contemptible

of inferior quality or value

debased; alloyed; counterfeit base currency

English history

(of land tenure) held by villein or other ignoble service
holding land by villein or other ignoble service

archaic born of humble parents; plebeian

archaic illegitimate

adjective, noun

music an obsolete spelling of bass 1

Derived forms of base

basely, adverb baseness, noun

Word Origin for base

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

Medical definitions for based

base

[ bās ]

n.

The part of an organ nearest its point of attachment.

A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent of a mixture.

Any of a large class of compounds, including the hydroxides and oxides of metals, having a bitter taste, a slippery solution, the capacity to turn litmus blue, and to react with acids to form salts.

A molecular or ionic substance capable of combining with a proton to form a new substance. Brønsted base

A nitrogen-containing organic compound that combines in such a manner.

A substance that provides a pair of electrons for a covalent bond with an acid.

Scientific definitions for based

base

[ bās ]

Chemistry

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. Compare acid.
See nitrogen base.

Mathematics

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.
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.
The number that is raised to a particular power in a given mathematical expression. In the expression an, a is the base.

Cultural definitions for based

base

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.

Idioms and Phrases with based

base

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

base

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), based, bas·ing.

verb (used without object), based, bas·ing.

Idioms for base

Origin of base

synonym study for base

OTHER WORDS FROM base

Words nearby base

Example sentences from the Web for based

British Dictionary definitions for based (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for base

British Dictionary definitions for based (2 of 2)

adjective

adjective, noun

Derived forms of base

Word Origin for base

Medical definitions for based

n.

Scientific definitions for based

Cultural definitions for based

Idioms and Phrases with based

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

base

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), based, bas·ing.

verb (used without object), based, bas·ing.

Idioms for base

Origin of base

synonym study for base

OTHER WORDS FROM base

Words nearby base

Words related to based

Example sentences from the Web for based

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for based (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for base

British Dictionary definitions for based (2 of 2)

adjective

adjective, noun

Derived forms of base

Word Origin for base

Medical definitions for based

n.

Scientific definitions for based

Cultural definitions for based

Idioms and Phrases with based

British Dictionary definitions for based (1 of 2)