Definition of basis | Collins English Dictionary

basis (ˈbeɪsɪs)

something that underlies, supports, or is essential to something else, esp an abstract idea
a principle on which something depends or from which something has issued
mathematics (of a vector space) a maximal set of linearly independent vectors, in terms of which all the elements of the space are uniquely expressible, and the number of which is the dimension of the space ⇒ the vectors x, y and z form a basis of the 3-dimensional space all members of which can be written as ax + by + cz

C14: via Latin from Greek: step, from bainein to step, go

View thesaurus entry

= foundation, support, base, ground, footing, theory, bottom, principle, premise, starting point, groundwork, point of departure, principal element chief ingredient

British English: basis If something happens or is done on a particular basis, it happens or is done in that way.We're going to meet there on a regular basis.ˈbeɪsɪs NOUN We're going to meet there on a regular basis.
Spanish: base nf
French: base nf
German: Grundlage nf
Chinese: 基础 n
Arabic: أَسَاس n
Portuguese: base nf
Russian: базис nm
Croatian: osnova nf
Czech: základ nm
Danish: grundlag nnt
Dutch: basis nf
Finnish: perusta n
Greek: βάση nf
Italian: base nf
Japanese: 基礎 n
Korean: 토대 n
Norwegian: grunnlag nm
Polish: podstawa nf
Brazilian Portuguese: base nf
European Spanish: base nf
Swedish: bas nutr
Thai: รากฐาน n
Turkish: anafikir n
Vietnamese: cơ sở n

It was a shaky enough basis on which to bind themselves to each other.
Fraser, Anthea, Pretty Maids all in a Row (1986)
From today local people will be able to watch the unrivalled grace and beauty of these birds on a daily basis.
Country Life (2004)
This will be extended on a national basis in the coming months.
Irish Times (2002)
It can source B&B accommodation from £36 a night or hotels on a half-board basis for under £50 a day.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
These are rarely even considered to be real, let alone as a basis for school lessons.
Marian Green, WILD WITCHCRAFT: A Guide to Natural, Herbal and Earth Magic (2002)