base

¹base

noun \ˈbās\

plural bas·es \ˈbā-səz\

Definition of BASE

1

a (1) : the lower part of a wall, pier, or column considered as a separate architectural feature (2) : the lower part of a complete architectural design

b : the bottom of something considered as its support : foundation

c (1) : a side or face of a geometrical figure from which an altitude can be constructed; especially : one on which the figure stands (2) : the length of a base

d : that part of a bodily organ by which it is attached to another more central structure of the organism

2

a : a main ingredient <paint having a latex base>

b : a supporting or carrying ingredient (as of a medicine)

3

a : the fundamental part of something : groundwork, basis

b : the economic factors on which in Marxist theory all legal, social, and political relations are formed

4

: the lower part of a heraldic field

5

a : the starting point or line for an action or undertaking

b : a baseline in surveying

c : a center or area of operations: as (1) : the place from which a military force draws supplies (2) : a place where military operations begin (3) : a permanent military installation

d (1) : a number (as 5 in 5^6.44 or 5⁷) that is raised to a power; especially : the number that when raised to a power equal to the logarithm of a number yields the number itself <the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2 since 10² = 100> (2) : a number equal to the number of units in a given digit's place that for a given system of writing numbers is required to give the numeral 1 in the next higher place <the decimal system uses a base of 10>; also : such a system of writing numbers using an indicated base <convert from base 10 to base 2> (3) : a number that is multiplied by a rate or of which a percentage or fraction is calculated <to find the interest on $90 at 10 percent multiply the base 90 by .10>

e : root 6

6

a : the starting place or goal in various games

b : any one of the four stations at the corners of a baseball infield

c : a point to be considered <his opening remarks touched every base>

7

a : any of various typically water-soluble and bitter tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7, are capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt, and are molecules or ions able to take up a proton from an acid or able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid

b : any of the five purine or pyrimidine bases of DNA and RNA that include cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine, and uracil

8

: a price level at which a security previously declining in price resists further decline

9

: the part of a transformational grammar that consists of rules and a lexicon and generates the deep structures of a language

— based \ˈbāst\ adjective

— base·less \ˈbā-sləs\ adjective

— off base

1

: wrong, mistaken <estimates were way off base>

2

: unawares <caught off base by the charges>

Examples of BASE

1. <the firm belief that complete trust between husband and wife is the base of any successful marriage>
2. <the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began>

Illustration of BASE

Origin of BASE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin basis, from Greek, step, base, from bainein to go — more at come

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BASE

Synonyms

basis, bedrock, bottom, cornerstone, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, root, underpinning, warp, warp and woof

Antonyms

head, top, vertex

Related Words

anchorage, bed, brace, bulwark, buttress, framework, infrastructure, mount, prop, shore, stay, substratum, substructure, support; assumption, justification, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, rationale, supposition, theory, thesis, warrant; backbone, center, core, cornerstone, eye, focus, heart, hub, kernel, keystone, nucleus, seat; essence, quintessence, soul, touchstone

Near Antonyms

acme, apex, climax, crest, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip, tip-top, zenith

Rhymes with BASE

ace, bass, brace, case, chase, dace, face, grace, lace, mace, Mace, Naas, pace, place, plaice, prase, race, res, space, Thrace, trace, vase, Wace

²base

transitive verb

based bas·ing

Definition of BASE

1

: to make, form, or serve as a base for

2

: to find a base or basis for —usually used with on or upon

Examples of BASE

1. They are going to base their new company in Seattle.
2. The company has based itself in London.
3. Our tour group based itself in a hotel in the heart of the city.

First Known Use of BASE

1587

Related to BASE

Synonyms

ground, hang, predicate, rest

Related Words

establish, found; assume, postulate, premise, presume, presuppose, suppose

³base

adjective

Definition of BASE

1

archaic : of little height

2

obsolete : low in place or position

3

obsolete : bass

4

archaic : baseborn

5

a : resembling a villein : servile <a base tenant>

b : held by villenage <base tenure>

6

a : being of comparatively low value and having relatively inferior properties (as lack of resistance to corrosion) <a base metal such as iron> — compare noble

b : containing a larger than usual proportion of base metals <base silver denarii>

7

a : lacking or indicating the lack of higher qualities of mind or spirit : ignoble

b : lacking higher values : degrading <a drab base way of life>

— base·ly adverb

— base·ness noun

Examples of BASE

1. Iron is a base metal.
2. <a base and sneaky act that is a clear violation of international law>

Origin of BASE

Middle English bas, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin bassus fat, short, low

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BASE

Synonyms

ignoble, contemptible, currish, despicable, detestable, dirty, dishonorable, execrable, ignominious, low, low-down, low-minded, mean, nasty, paltry, snide, sordid, vile, wretched

Antonyms

high, high-minded, honorable, lofty, noble, straight, upright, venerable, virtuous

Related Words

bad, black, evil, foul, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, wicked, wrong; cruel, vicious; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, perverted; atrocious, villainous; unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; discreditable, disgraceful, disreputable, shameful, unworthy

Near Antonyms

ethical, honest, just, principled, righteous, right-minded, scrupulous; commendable, excellent, exemplary, good, moral, right; decent, proper, reputable, respectable, seemly; blameless, guiltless; incorruptible, irreproachable; uncorrupted, unerring

Synonym Discussion of BASE

base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values. base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness <base motives>. low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety <refused to listen to such low talk>. vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth <a vile remark>.

base

noun \ˈbās\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; bas·es \ˈbā-səz\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of BASE

1

: that portion of a bodily organ or part by which it is attached to another more central structure of the organism <the base of the thumb>

2

a : the usually inactive ingredient of a preparation serving as the vehicle for the active medicinal preparation <the fatty base of an ointment> b : the chief active ingredient of a preparation—called also basis

3

a : any of various typically water-soluble and bitter tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7, are capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt, and are molecules or ions able to take up a proton from an acid or are substances able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid—compare alkali b : any of the five purine or pyrimidine bases of DNA and RNA that include cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine, and uracil

4

: freebase

—based \ˈbāst\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

base

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In chemistry, any substance that in water solution is slippery to the touch, tastes bitter, changes the colour of acid-base indicators (e.g., litmus paper), reacts with acids to form salts, and promotes certain chemical reactions (e.g., base catalysis). Examples of bases are the hydroxides of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals (sodium, calcium, etc.; see caustic soda) and the water solutions of ammonia or its derivatives (amines). Such substances produce hydroxide ions (OH) in water solutions. Broader definitions of bases cover situations in which water is not present. See also acid-base theory; alkali; nucleophile.