Definition of 'base'

base

(beɪs )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense bases , present participle basing , past tense, past participle based , comparative baser , superlative basest

1. countable noun

The base of something is its lowest edge or part.

There was a cycle path running along this side of the wall, right at its base.

Line the base and sides of a 20cm deep round cake tin with paper.

Synonyms: bottom, floor, lowest part, deepest part More Synonyms of base

2. countable noun

The base of something is the lowest part of it, where it is attached to something else.

The surgeon placed catheters through the veins and arteries near the base of the head. [+ of]

3. countable noun [usually with poss]

The base of an object such as a box or vase is the lower surface of it that touches the surface it rests on.

Remove from the heat and plunge the base of the pan into a bowl of very cold water. [+ of]

Synonyms: underside, sole, underneath, lower side More Synonyms of base

4. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]

The base of an object that has several sections and that rests on a surface is the lower section of it.

The mattress is best on a solid bed base.

The clock stands on an oval marble base, enclosed by a glass dome.

Synonyms: support, stand, foot, rest More Synonyms of base

5. countable noun

A base is a layer of something which will have another layer added to it.

Spoon the mixture on to the biscuit base and cook in a pre-heated oven.

On many modern wooden boats, epoxy coatings will have been used as a base for varnishing.

6. countable noun [usually singular]

A position or thing that is a base for something is one from which that thing can be developed or achieved.

The post will give him a powerful political base from which to challenge the Kremlin.

The family base was crucial to my development.

Synonyms: foundation, institution, organization, establishment More Synonyms of base

7. verb

If you base one thing on another thing, the first thing develops from the second thing.

He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners. [V n + on/upon]

Synonyms: ground, found, build, rest More Synonyms of base

based adjective

Three of the new products are based on traditional herbal medicines. [+ on/upon]

The figures are based upon average market prices.

8. countable noun

A company's client base or customer base is the group of regular clients or customers that the company gets most of its income from.

[business]

The company has been expanding its customer base using trade magazine advertising.

9. countable noun

A military base is a place which part of the armed forces works from.

Gunfire was heard at an army base close to the airport.

...a massive air base in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Synonyms: centre, post, station, camp More Synonyms of base

10. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]

Your base is the main place where you work, stay, or live.

For most of the spring and early summer her base was her home in Scotland.

Synonyms: home, house, territory, pad [slang, old-fashioned] More Synonyms of base

11. countable noun [usually singular]

If a place is a base for a certain activity, the activity can be carried out at that place or from that place.

The two hotels are attractive bases from which to explore southeast Tuscany.

Los Angeles was still my financial base. I was still doing business there.

12. countable noun

The base of a substance such as paint or food is the main ingredient of it, to which other substances can be added.

Drain off any excess marinade and use it as a base for a pouring sauce.

Oils may be mixed with a base oil and massaged into the skin.

Synonyms: essence, source, basis, concentrate More Synonyms of base

13. countable noun

A base is a system of counting and expressing numbers. The decimal system uses base 10, and the binary system uses base 2.

14. countable noun

A base in baseball, softball, or rounders is one of the places at each corner of the square on the pitch.

15. graded adjective

Base behaviour is behaviour that is immoral or dishonest.

[literary]

Love has the power to overcome the baser emotions.

Synonyms: dishonourable, evil, corrupt, infamous More Synonyms of base

16.

See off base

17.

See touch base

18.

See touch/cover all the bases

More Synonyms of base

English Easy Learning GrammarThe non-finite parts of the verbNon-finite parts of a verb are those that do not indicate number, person or tense. The common non-finite forms are:
the base form
the present participle ... Read more

Video: pronunciation of
base

base in British English 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 supply

the 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

base in British English 2

(beɪs )

adjective

devoid of honour or morality; ignoble; contemptible

of inferior quality or value

debased; alloyed; counterfeit

base currency

4. English history

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

holding land by villein or other ignoble service

5. archaic

born of humble parents; plebeian

6. archaic

illegitimate

adjective, noun

7. music an obsolete spelling of bass1

Derived forms

basely (ˈbasely)

adverb

baseness (ˈbaseness)

noun

Word origin

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

base in American English 1

(beɪs )

noun

the thing or part on which something rests; lowest part or bottom; foundation

the fundamental or main part, as of a plan, organization, system, theory, etc.

the principal or essential ingredient, or the one serving as a vehicle

paint with an oil base

anything from which a start is made; basis

the point of attachment of a part of the body

the base of the thumb

a center of operations or source of supply; headquarters, as of a military operation or exploring expedition

the bottommost layer or coat, as of paint

a makeup cream to give a desired color to the skin, esp. in the theater

8. Architecture

the lower part, as of a column, pier, or wall, regarded as a separate unit

9. Baseball

any of the four objects at the four corners of the infield that must be reached safely one after the other to score a run: three (first base, second base, and third base) are set above the ground while the fourth (home plate) is set flush with the ground

10. Chemistry

any compound that can react with an acid to form a salt, the hydroxyl of the base being replaced by a negative ion: in modern theory, any substance that produces a negative ion and donates electrons to an acid to form covalent bonds: in water solution a base tastes bitter, turns red litmus paper blue, and, in dissociation theory, produces free hydroxyl ions

base in American English 2

(beɪs )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈbaser or ˈbasest

having or showing little or no honor, courage, or decency; mean; ignoble; contemptible

a base coward, base ingratitude

of a menial or degrading kind

base servitude

inferior in quality

4. Rare

not classical or cultivated

base Latin

of comparatively low worth

iron is a base metal, gold a precious one

debased or counterfeit

base coin

having the low feudal status of villein

held by one having this status

base tenure

8. Archaic

low in height; short

9. Archaic

of servile, humble, or illegitimate birth

10. Obsolete

low or inferior in place or position

11. Obsolete

bass1

noun

12. Obsolete

bass1

SYNONYMY NOTE: base2 implies a putting of one's own interests ahead of one's obligations, as because of greed or cowardice [base motives]; mean1 suggests a contemptible pettiness of character or conduct [his mean attempts to slander her]; ignoble suggests a lack of high moral or intellectual qualities [to work for an ignoble end]; abject implies debasement and a contemptible lack of self-respect [an abject servant]; sordid connotes the depressing drabness of that which is mean or base [the sordid details of their affair]; vile suggests disgusting foulness or depravity [vile epithets]; low1 suggests rather generally coarseness, vulgarity, depravity, etc., specif. in reference to taking grossly unfair advantage [so low as to steal from one's own mother]; degrading suggests a lowering or corruption of moral standards [the degrading aspects of prison life]

OPPOSITES: noble, moral, virtuous

Derived forms

basely (ˈbasely)

adverb

baseness (ˈbaseness)

noun

Word origin

ME & OFr bas < VL bassus, thick, stumpy, low

Examples of 'base' in a sentence
base

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Instead it is a system based on sticks.Price per person based on four sharing.All four have regional power bases.The centre will be based in Southampton but cover nine counties.Based on current values this would give him a lump sum of more than 30,000.I could not care less that there is a medical consensus that statins are safe unless that consensus is based on good evidence.Don't wrap up too warm: wear only a base layer and a hat.All four Britons are based in America.And what has worked for England's back row so far has been a smoke and mirrors deception based around the numbers on the back of a jersey.We have a number of vehicles based locally that are able to access the court.