: something (as a group of people) that reliably provides support (such as for a business or political candidate)—usually singular
efforts to expand their customer basethe band's fan baseBut I do believe that that's a very sore point with many Democrats and could be used to energize their base.—John McCain
c
Marxism: the economic factors on which all legal, social, and political relations are formed
4
a
: the starting point or line for an action or undertaking
plans to make this city his base of operation—J. A. Loftus
: a number (such as 5 in 56.44 or 57) that is raised to a power (see powerentry 1 sense 5a)
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 (see placeentry 1 sense 8) 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.
5
a
: any one of the four stations at the corners of a baseball or softball infield
allowing the batter to reach base
b
in various games: the starting place or goal
c
: a point to be considered
His opening remarks touched every base.
6
chemistry
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
7
finance: a price level at which a security (see securitysense 3) previously declining in price resists further decline
: an electrode that modulates the current flowing through a bipolar junction transistor according to the voltage applied to the electrode
This gate, which is called a grid in a tube and a base in a transistor, enables a small "controlling" voltage to turn on and off a much larger voltage between the cathode and the anode.—Thom Hartmann
This situation is frequently encountered by seaplane pilots in northern Canada who must fly over lakes and tundra to a base camp located on a river.—Alan Lopez
2
: of the simplest or most basic design or form : having the form of something before upgrades or customization
This GTO's 350-hp, 5.7-liter V8 is the same that's used in the base Corvette, and it produces the power and throaty exhaust sound of a classic muscle car.—Consumer Reports
Phrases
cover all the bases or less commonly cover every base or have (all) one's bases covered
: to do or include everything that needs to be done or included : to fulfill all requirements or necessities
The well rounded menu covers all the bases—pork or duck breast and always a grilled chicken with complementary sauces and relishes …—Caroline Bates
In other words, we need to cover every base. Too often, something is remembered at the last minute and we find ourselves waiting for the stores to open on sale day so we can purchase a much-needed item.—Sue Story
In your e-mail, let the company know that, for their convenience, you're e-mailing the resume and letter, but that the original documents will arrive by postal service. This way you've got all your bases covered.—Peter Post
touch all the bases or less commonly touch every base
1
: to mention every subject that needs to be considered
a speech that touches all the bases
2
: to do or include everything that needs to be done or included : to fulfill all requirements or necessities
need to touch all the bases when applying for a mortgage
The owner of the Utah Stars is in Salt Lake City, working 24 hours a day in an effort to touch every base to keep his club in Utah's capital city.—Dan Pattison
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
Example Sentences
Noun
their base obedience to every unprincipled action ordered by their leader
the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began Verb
They are going to base their new company in Seattle.
The company has based itself in London.
Our tour group based itself in a hotel in the heart of the city. Adjective (1)
Iron is a base metal.
a base and sneaky act that is a clear violation of international law See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The P550e appears to be exclusive to the Autobiography trim, with the base SE model no longer offering the P440e powertrain in the United States.—Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 18 May 2023 Supplements can send your bill skyward, but even the base dinner here is as much a master class in Peruvian history and geography as celebration of one of the world’s finest pantries.—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 May 2023 The base options could change over time, a relief for those already worried about the lack of mayo.—Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 17 May 2023 Crimson Brunette View full post on Instagram Create new depth for brown hair by adding a tinge of red to your base color, as seen on Little Mermaid star, Halle Bailey.—harpersbazaar.com, 17 May 2023 With top notes of citrus and bergamot blended with base notes like amber, vanilla, and tonka bean, this candle is the perfect companion to fall.—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 Badger Baby’s organic sunflower oil base is pediatrician-tested and easy to apply.—Lorraine Wilde, Treehugger, 16 May 2023 Veteran defender Dario Zuparic had the biggest pay bump on the Timbers, going from $375,000 base salary in 2022 to $735,000 in 2023.—oregonlive, 16 May 2023 Removal: Pull by hand, and snip vines at base of trees; dispose of the vine in your trash, not in compost.—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 16 May 2023
Verb
Read on to get house exterior paint cost estimates based on size, condition, location, and more.—Kate Mcgregor, House Beautiful, 18 May 2023 The car was already equipped with Porsche's native charging planner, which can suggest stops based on information like the vehicle's state of charge (SOC), expected traffic conditions, and average speed.—Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 18 May 2023 This technique is based on a simple idea: over evolutionary time, the order of genes on a chromosome gets shuffled via mutations—for instance, via inversions that flip the order of genes within a chromosome.—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 17 May 2023 The series, which stars Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, is based on the novels by Robyn Carr, and has been a huge success, following the many twists and turns of an idyllic small town.—Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 17 May 2023 The Spurs won the No. 1 pick and based on the odds, the Rockets and Pistons should have received a higher pick than the Blazers.—oregonlive, 17 May 2023 Amelia Arvesen freelance journalist Amelia Arvesen is an outdoor recreation journalist based in Portland, Oregon.—Amelia Arvesen, Women's Health, 17 May 2023 Ultimately, many hyphenates are making individual choices based on a complex calculus of what their own consciences are telling them, their loyalty to the labor movement, their leverage with employers, the state of their careers and the circumstances of their current project.—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 Sophi Miyoko Gullbrants is a Japanese American artist based in Brooklyn.—Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023
Adjective
Five of the Padres’ staring position players yesterday have a base salary of at least $7 million in 2023.—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2023 Ronald Jones inked a one-year deal with a base salary of $1.08 million with $150,000 guaranteed.—Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 7 May 2023 Giannis Antetokounmpo Antetokounmpo is under contract for a base salary of $45.6 million.—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2023 Lavin will receive a base salary of $325,000 a year, according to Healey’s office.—Taylor Dolven, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Apr. 2023 The company paid Owen a base salary of $1.1 million in 2022, but incentives increased her salary to nearly $5 million, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2023 The two Lake Forest school boards have approved a new five-year contract for Superintendent Matthew Montgomery that includes more than a 20% raise in base salary.—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2023 View Photos That lineup consists of the base Impreza, the Sport, and the new RS.—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 4 Apr. 2023 Those guarantees include $170,000 of his base salary along with a $30,000 signing bonus.—Oliver Thomas, Forbes, 5 May 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'base.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin basis, from Greek, step, base, from bainein to go — more at come
: 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 alsobasis
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
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