base

I

[[t]beɪs[/t]]

n. adj. v. based, bas•ing

1) a bottom support; that on which a thing stands or rests

2) a fundamental principle; basis

3) the bottom layer or coating, as of makeup or paint

4) archit.

a) the distinctively treated portion of a column or pier below the shaft

b) the distinctively treated lowermost portion of any structure, as a monument or exterior wall

5) zool.

a) bot the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment

b) bot the point of attachment

6) the principal element or ingredient of anything, considered as its fundamental part:

house paint with a lead base[/ex]

7) a starting point or point of departure

8) spo

a) any of the four corners of a baseball diamond, esp. first, second, or third base

Compare home plate

b) a square canvas sack marking first, second, or third base

9) mil

a) a usu. fortified place from which military operations proceed

b) a supply installation for a large military force

10) math.

a) the lower side or surface of a geometric figure; the side or surface to which an altitude can be drawn

b) the number that serves as a starting point for a logarithmic or other numerical system

c) the number of symbols used in a numerical system:

The base in the decimal system is 10, in the binary system 2[/ex]

11) sur

Also called baseline See under triangulation 1)

12) mot pht a thin, flexible layer of cellulose triacetate or similar material on photographic film that holds the light-sensitive emulsion and other coatings

13) chem.

a) a chemical compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt

b) the hydroxide of a metal or of an electropositive element or group

c) a group or molecule that accepts protons

d) a molecule or ion containing an atom with a free pair of electrons that can be donated to an acid

14) gen Genetics. any of the purine or pyrimidine compounds that constitute a portion of the nucleotide molecule of DNA or RNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil

Compare base pair

15) gram. the part of a complex word, consisting of one or more morphemes, to which derivational or inflectional affixes may be added, as want in unwanted or biolog- in biological

Compare root I, 10),stem I, 10)

16) cvb ling. the component of a generative grammar containing the lexicon and phrase-structure rules that generate the deep structure of sentences

17) her Heraldry. the lower part of an escutcheon

18) jew

pavilion 5)

19) serving as or forming a base:

the explorer's base camp[/ex]

20) to make or form a base or foundation for

21) to establish, as a fact or conclusion (usu. fol. by on or upon):

to base an assumption on evidence[/ex]

22) to place or establish on a base or basis; ground; found (usu. fol. by on or upon):

Our plan is based on an upturn in the economy[/ex]

23) to station, place, or situate (usu. fol. by at or on):

The general is based at Fort Benning[/ex]

24) to have a basis; be based

25) to have or maintain a base

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- off base touch base

Etymology: 1275–1325; ME (n.) < MF < L basis basis; cf. prisoner's base syn: base, basis, foundation refer to anything upon which a structure is built and upon which it rests. base usu. refers to a physical supporting structure: the base of a statue. basis more often refers to a figurative support: the basis of a report. foundation implies a solid, secure understructure. II

base

[[t]beɪs[/t]] adj. bas•er, bas•est

1) morally low; contemptible:

base motives[/ex]

2) of little or no value; worthless:

base materials[/ex]

3) debased or counterfeit:

base coinage[/ex]

4) of illegitimate birth

5) not refined:

base language[/ex]

6) law held by or characteristic of villeinage

7) archaic

a) of humble origin or station

b) of small height

c) low in place, position, or degree

8) Obs. deep or grave in sound; bass

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME bas < OF < LL bassus low, short, perh. of Oscan orig. base′ly, adv. base′ness, n. syn: See mean II.