bottom
[ bot-uh m ]
/ ˈbɒt əm /
noun
the lowest or deepest part of anything, as distinguished from the top: the bottom of a hill; the bottom of a page.
the under or lower side; underside: the bottom of a typewriter.
the ground under any body of water: the bottom of the sea.
Usually bottoms. Also called bottom land. Physical Geography.
low alluvial land next to a river.
Nautical.
- the part of a hull between the bilges, including the keel.
- the part of a hull that is immersed at all times.
- the cargo space in a vessel.
- a cargo vessel.
the seat of a chair.
Informal.
the buttocks; rump.
the fundamental part; basic aspect.
bottoms, (used with a plural verb)
the bottom part of a two-piece article of clothing, as a bathing suit or the trousers of a pair of pajamas.
the working part of a plow, comprising the plowshare, landside, and moldboard.
the cause; origin; basis: Try getting to the bottom of the problem.
Baseball.
- the second half of an inning.
- the last three players in the batting order.
lowest limit, especially of dignity, status, or rank: When people sink that low, they're bound to reach the bottom soon.
Slang.
the submissive partner in a sexual relationship or encounter, especially the person who is penetrated in anal intercourse (opposed to top).
Usually bottoms. Chemistry.
the heaviest, least volatile fraction of petroleum, left behind in distillation after more volatile fractions are driven off.
verb (used with object)
to furnish with a bottom.
to base or found (usually followed by on or upon).
to discover the full meaning of (something); fathom.
to bring (a submarine) to rest on the ocean floor: They had to bottom the sub until the enemy cruisers had passed by.
verb (used without object)
to be based; rest.
to strike against the bottom or end; reach the bottom.
(of an automotive vehicle) to sink vertically, as when bouncing after passing over a bump, so that the suspension reaches the lower limit of its motion: The car bottomed too easily on the bumpy road.
adjective
of or relating to the bottom or a bottom.
located on or at the bottom: I want the bottom book in the stack.
lowest: bottom prices.
living near or on the bottom: A flounder is a bottom fish.
fundamental: the bottom cause.
Verb Phrases
bottom out,
to reach the lowest state or level: The declining securities market finally bottomed out and began to rise.
Idioms for bottom
- to wager the last of one's money or resources.
- to be positive or assured: You can bet your bottom dollar that something will prevent us from leaving on time.
at bottom,
in reality; fundamentally: They knew at bottom that they were only deceiving themselves.
Also at the bottom.
bet one's bottom dollar,
bottoms up,
(used as an interjection to announce or urge the downing of one's drink).
hit bottom,
to fall into the worst of all possible circumstances: After all those years of flying high, she finally hit bottom. When the housing market crashed, it really hit bottom, leaving people with houses worth less than their mortgages.
Origin of bottom
before 1000; Middle English
botme, Old English
botm; akin to Old Norse
botn, Dutch
bodem, German
Boden, Latin
fundus, Greek
pythmḗn, Sanskrit
budhná
OTHER WORDS FROM bottom
un·bot·tom, verb (used with object) un·der·bot·tom, nounWords nearby bottom
Example sentences from the Web for bottom
Despite its ranking at the bottom of most international development indexes, the conflict is shrouded by confusion.
Bottom line is that it will only be a BVR [beyond visual range] airplane.
On Monday, Soelistyo had jolted relatives as well as searchers by suggesting that the plane could be “at the bottom of the sea.”
At the same time, the heaviest parts—the main fuselage, the engines and wings—sink to the bottom.
And thus I end up at the bottom of the stairs, about one month after my injury and two months after my wedding.
It was like walking at the bottom of the sea, only things that were thrown at you travelled faster.
The Glory of the Trenches |Coningsby DawsonEven then the sentiment of our rights existed in the bottom of our souls.
A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents |James D. Richardson"There's a fox's mask," said the Colonel at the bottom of the table, pointing a triangular bit out.
The Magnetic North |Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)Bore small holes in the bottom of a barrel, place four bricks around, and fill the barrel with ashes.
The American Frugal Housewife |Lydia M. ChildHe shook a phial until the sediment at the bottom turned the liquid to a muddy purple as seen against the light.
Left Half Harmon |Ralph Henry Barbour
British Dictionary definitions for bottom
bottom
/ (ˈbɒtəm) /
noun
the lowest, deepest, or farthest removed part of a thing
the bottom of a hill
the least important or successful position
the bottom of a class
the ground underneath a sea, lake, or river
touch bottom
to run aground
the inner depths of a person's true feelings (esp in the phrase from the bottom of one's heart)
the underneath part of a thing
nautical
the parts of a vessel's hull that are under water
(in literary or commercial contexts) a boat or ship
billiards snooker
a strike in the centre of the cue ball
a dry valley or hollow
(often plural) US and Canadian
the low land bordering a river
the lowest level worked in a mine
(esp of horses) staying power; stamina
importance, seriousness, or influence
his views all have weight and bottom
informal
the buttocks
at bottom
in reality; basically or despite appearances to the contrary
he's a kind man at bottom
be at the bottom of
to be the ultimate cause of
get to the bottom of
to discover the real truth about
knock the bottom out of
to destroy or eliminate
adjective (prenominal)
lowest or last
the bottom price
bet one's bottom dollar on or put one's bottom dollar on
to be absolutely sure of (one's opinion, a person, project, etc)
of, relating to, or situated at the bottom or a bottom
the bottom shelf
fundamental; basic
verb
(tr)
to provide (a chair, etc) with a bottom or seat
(tr)
to discover the full facts or truth of; fathom
(usually foll by on or upon)
to base or be founded (on an idea, etc)
(intr) nautical
to strike the ground beneath the water with a vessel's bottom
Australian mining
- to mine (a hole, claim, etc) deep enough to reach any gold there is
- (intr foll by on) to reach (gold, mud, etc) on bottoming
electronics
to saturate a transistor so that further increase of input produces no change in output
See also
bottom out
Word Origin for bottom
Old English
botm; related to Old Norse
botn, Old High German
bodam, Latin
fundus, Greek
puthmēn
Idioms and Phrases with bottom
bottom
In addition to the idioms beginning with bottom
- bottom drops out, the
- bottom line
- bottom of the barrel
- bottom of the ladder
- bottom out
also see:
- at bottom
- from head to toe (top to bottom)
- from the bottom of one's heart
- get to the bottom
- hit (touch) bottom
- knock the bottom out of
- rock bottom
- touch bottom
- you bet your ass (bottom dollar)