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base

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Base is defined as the lowest part of something or the part which supports the rest.

(noun)

An example of a base is the bottom supporting part of a basketball hoop.
An example of a base is the reason someone may give for being in favor of a referendum.
An example of a base is primer that is put on the wall before painting.

A base is one of the squares to which a baseball player must run after the player, or a teammate, hits the ball.

(noun)

An example of a base is home plate.

The definition of base is something that forms a foundation.

(adjective)

An example of something that is base is the first coat of paint.

To base is defined as to make a determination, to create groundwork or to place something somewhere.

(verb)

An example of base is forming an opinion on your background knowledge.
An example of base is developing a plan upon your financial ability to make it work.
An example of base is to locate a company in Washington D.C.

See base in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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
1. the bottommost layer or coat, as of paint
2. a makeup cream to give a desired color to the skin, esp. in the theater
Archit. the lower part, as of a column, pier, or wall, regarded as a separate unit
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
Chem.
1. 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
2. any of the two purines (adenine or guanine) or three pyrimidines (thymine, cytosine, or uracil) that are the key building blocks of nucleic acid
Dyeing a substance used for fixing colors
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
Geom. the line or plane upon which a figure is thought of as resting: the base of a triangle
Heraldry the lower portion of a shield
Linguis. any morpheme to which prefixes, suffixes, etc. are or can be added; stem or root
Math.
1. 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
2. any number raised to a power by an exponent
3. a starting or reference figure or sum upon which certain calculations are made

Origin: ME < OFr bas < L basis, basis

adjective

forming a base

transitive verb based, basing

to make or form a base or foundation for
to put or rest (on) as a base or basis: to base a guess on past experience
to place or station (in or at a base)

adjective baser, basest

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
Now 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
1. having the low feudal status of villein
2. held by one having this status: base tenure
Archaic low in height; short
Archaic of servile, humble, or illegitimate birth
Obsolete low or inferior in place or position
Obsolete bass

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

noun

Obsolete bass

Related Forms:

basely adverb
baseness noun

See base in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The lowest or bottom part: the base of a cliff; the base of a lamp.
Biology
a. The part of a plant or animal organ that is nearest to its point of attachment.
b. The point of attachment of such an organ.
a. A supporting part or layer; a foundation: a skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
b. A basic or underlying element; infrastructure: the nation's industrial base.
The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis.
A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent: a paint with an oil base.
The fact, observation, or premise from which a reasoning process is begun.
a. Games A starting point, safety area, or goal.
b. Baseball Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
A center of organization, supply, or activity; a headquarters.
a. A fortified center of operations.
b. A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
A facial cosmetic used to even out the complexion or provide a surface for other makeup; a foundation.
Architecture The lowest part of a structure, such as a wall, considered as a separate unit: the base of a column.
Heraldry The lower part of a shield.
Linguistics A morpheme or morphemes regarded as a form to which affixes or other bases may be added.
Mathematics
a. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
b. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
c. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
A line used as a reference for measurement or computations.
Chemistry
a. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
b. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
c. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
d. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
Electronics
a. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
b. The electrode attached to this region.
One of the nitrogen-containing purines (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) that occurs attached to the sugar component of DNA or RNA.

adjective

Forming or serving as a base: a base layer of soil.
Situated at or near the base or bottom: a base camp for the mountain climbers.
Chemistry Of, relating to, or containing a base.

transitive verb based based, bas·ing, bas·es

To form or provide a base for: based the new company in Portland.
To find a basis for; establish: based her conclusions on the report; a film based on a best-selling novel.
To assign to a base; station: troops based in the Middle East.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin basis

Origin: , from Greek; see g^wā- in Indo-European roots

adjective bas·er, bas·est

a. Having or showing a contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish lack of human decency. See Synonyms at mean².
b. Devoid of high values or ethics: a base, degrading way of life.
c. Inferior in value or quality.
Containing inferior substances: a base metal.
Archaic Of low birth, rank, or position.
Obsolete Short in stature.