Definition of 'base'
Word forms: bases, basing, based, baser, basest
1. countable noun
The base of something is its lowest edge or part.
2. countable noun
3. countable noun
The base of an object such as a box or vase is the lower surface of it that touches the surface
it rests on.
4. countable noun
The base of an object that has several sections and that rests on a surface is the lower section
of it.
5. countable noun
6. countable noun
A position or thing that is a base for something is one from which that thing can be developed or achieved.
7. transitive verb
If you base one thing on another thing, the first thing develops from the second thing.
8. countable noun
9. countable noun
A military base is a place that part of the armed forces works from.
10. countable noun
Your base is the main place where you work, stay, or live.
11. countable noun
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.
13. countable noun [also N num]
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
15. adjective [ADJ n]
Base is used to describe a price or someone's income when this does not include any additional amounts.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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
the base form
the present participle ... Read more
Video: pronunciation of
base
Word Frequency
base in American English 1
noun
1.
the thing or part on which something rests; lowest part or bottom; foundation
2.
the fundamental or main part, as of a plan, organization, system, theory, etc.
3.
the principal or essential ingredient, or the one serving as a vehicle
paint with an oil base
4.
anything from which a start is made; basis
5.
the point of attachment of a part of the body
the base of the thumb
6.
a center of operations or source of supply; headquarters, as of a military operation or exploring expedition
7.
a.
the bottommost layer or coat, as of paint
b.
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
10. Chemistry
a.
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
see also pHb.
any of the two purines (adenine or guanine) or three pyrimidines (thymine, cytosine,
or uracil) that are the key building blocks of nucleic acid
see also base pair12. Electronics
in some transistors, the region or layer of semiconductor material, acting as an electrode, that separates the emitter from the collector and receives an electric current of
electrons or holes
13. Geometry
the line or plane upon which a figure is thought of as resting
the base of a triangle
14. Heraldry
the lower portion of a shield
16. Ancient Mathematics
a.
a whole number, esp. 10 or 2, made the fundamental number, and raised to various
powers to produce the major counting units, of a number system; radix
c.
a starting or reference figure or sum upon which certain calculations are made
adjective
17.
forming a base
verb transitiveWord forms: based or ˈbasing
18.
to make or form a base or foundation for
19.
to put or rest (on) as a base or basis
to base a guess on past experience
20.
to place or station (in or at a base)
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: base1, as compared here, refers to a part or thing at the bottom acting as a support or
underlying structure [the base of a lamp]; basis, conveying the same idea, is the term preferred for nonphysical things [the basis of a theory]; foundation stresses solidity in the underlying or supporting thing and often suggests permanence
and stability in that which is built on it [the foundation of a house]; groundwork, closely synonymous with , foundation, is principally applied to nonphysical things [the groundwork of a good education]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
base in American English 2
adjectiveWord forms: ˈbaser or ˈbasest
1.
a base coward, base ingratitude
3.
inferior in quality
4. Rare
not classical or cultivated
base Latin
5.
of comparatively low worth
iron is a base metal, gold a precious one
6.
debased or counterfeit
base coin
8. Archaic
low in height; short
10. Obsolete
low or inferior in place or position
noun
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
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
basely (ˈbasely)
adverb
baseness (ˈbaseness)
noun
Word origin
ME & OFr bas < VL bassus, thick, stumpy, low
Word Frequency
base in British English 1
noun
1.
the bottom or supporting part of anything
2.
the fundamental or underlying principle or part, as of an idea, system, or organization; basis
3.
a.
a centre of operations, organization, or supply
the climbers made a base at 8000 feet
b.
(as modifier)
base camp
4.
a centre from which military activities are coordinated
5.
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
7.
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
See also Lewis base8. biochemistry
11. biology
a.
the part of an organ nearest to its point of attachment
b.
the point of attachment of an organ or part
12.
the bottommost layer or part of anything
13. architecture
a.
the lowest division of a building or structure
b.
the lower part of a column or pier
14. another word for baseline (sense 2)
15.
the lower side or face of a geometric construction
16. mathematics
a.
the number of distinct single-digit numbers in a counting system, and so the number
represented as 10 in a place-value system
the binary system has two digits, 0 and 1, and 10 to base 2 represents 2
See place-valueb.
(of a logarithm or exponential) the number whose powers are expressed
since 1000 = 103, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3
c.
(of a mathematical structure) a substructure from which the given system can be generated
d.
17. Also called: base clause logic, mathematics
the initial element of a recursive definition, that defines the first element of the infinite sequence generated thereby
20. photography
the glass, paper, or cellulose-ester film that supports the sensitized emulsion with which it is coated
23.
a starting or finishing point in any of various games
26. See off base
27. See touch base
verb
28. (tr foll by on or upon)
to use as a basis (for); found (on)
your criticisms are based on ignorance
29. (often foll by at or in)
to station, post, or place (a person or oneself)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin basis pedestal; see basisWord Frequency
base in British English 2
adjective
1.
2.
of inferior quality or value
4. English history
b.
holding land by villein or other ignoble service
adjective, noun
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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
Examples of 'base' in a sentence
base
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Word lists with
base
architectural features, heraldryQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which architectural feature am I?
the part of a classical temple above the columns, having an architrave, a frieze, and a cornice
Which architectural feature am I?
(in ancient Greece) a narrow fillet or headband for the hair
Which architectural feature am I?
(esp of a classical temple) having a set of columns at both ends or at both sides
Which architectural feature am I?
a circular window having ribs radiating from the centre
Which architectural feature am I?
a pattern of interlacing ribs, esp as used in the upper part of a Gothic window, etc
Your score:
Trends of
base
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In other languages
base
British English: base
/beɪs/ NOUN
The base of something is its lowest edge or part, or the part at which it is attached to something else.
...a cake tin with a removable base.
- American English: base /ˈbeɪs/
- Arabic: قَاعِدَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: base
- Chinese: 基础
- Croatian: baza
- Czech: dno
- Danish: base
- Dutch: basis
- European Spanish: base parte
- Finnish: perusta
- French: base
- German: Basis
- Greek: βάση
- Italian: base
- Japanese: 土台
- Korean: 토대
- Norwegian: basis
- Polish: podstawa podłoże
- European Portuguese: base
- Romanian: bază
- Russian: основа
- Spanish: base
- Swedish: bas fundament
- Thai: ฐาน, ฐานราก, พื้น, ก้น
- Turkish: kaide heykel vb
- Ukrainian: основа
- Vietnamese: đế
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base
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Definition of base from the Collins English Dictionary
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spoke
spoken
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soar
sore
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whole
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canon
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earn or urn?
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council or counsel?
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council
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canvas or canvass?
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canvass
canvas
I'm going out to for the Conservative party.
cereal or serial?
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serial
cereal
It has become the BBC's most popular .
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I'm all by myself and I know I'm going to get lost.
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