base

pronunciation

How to pronounce base in British English: UK [beɪs]word uk audio image

How to pronounce base in American English: US [beɪs] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
    installation from which a military force initiates operations
    lowest support of a structure
    place that runner must touch before scoring
    (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place
    the bottom or lowest part
    (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment
    a lower limit
    the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
    a support or foundation
    the bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed
    the most important or necessary part of something
    the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
    (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
    the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area
    the principal ingredient of a mixture
    a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit
    (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
  • Verb:
    use as a basis for; found on
    use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
    assign to a station
  • Adjective:
    serving as or forming a base
    (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal
    of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
    not adhering to ethical or moral principles
    having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
    illegitimate
    debased; not genuine

Word Origin

base
base: There are two distinct words base in English. Base meaning ‘lower part, foundation’ [14] came either via Old French base or was a direct anglicization of Latin basis (acquired by English in its unaltered form at around the same time). The Latin word in its turn came from Greek básis, which meant originally ‘step’ and came ultimately from the Indo-European base *gwm-, from which English gets come; the semantic progression involved was ‘going, stepping’ to ‘that on which one walks or stands’ to ‘pedestal’.The derivative basement [18] is Italian in origin (Italian basamento means ‘base of a column’), but probably reached English via early modern Dutch basement ‘foundation’. Base meaning ‘low’ [14] comes via Old French bas from medieval Latin bassus ‘short, low’. The ultimate antecedents of this are uncertain, although some have suggested a connection with básson, the comparative form of Greek bathús ‘deep’.The adjective bass is historically the same word as base, but since the 16th century has been distinguished from it by spelling.=> basis; bass
base (n.)
"bottom, foundation, pedestal," early 14c., from Old French bas "depth" (12c.), from Latin basis "foundation," from Greek basis "step, pedestal," from bainein "to step" (see come). The military sense is from 1860. The chemical sense (1810) was introduced in French 1754 by French chemist Guillaume-François Rouelle (1703-1770). Sporting sense of "starting point" ia from 1690s, also "destination of a runner" (1812). As a "safe" spot in a tag-like game, suggested from mid-15c. (as the name of the game later called prisoner's base).
base (adj.)
late 14c., "low, of little height," from Old French bas "low, lowly, mean," from Late Latin bassus "thick, stumpy, low" (used only as a cognomen in classical Latin, humilis being there the usual word for "low in stature or position"), possibly from Oscan, or Celtic, or related to Greek basson, comparative of bathys "deep." Figurative sense of "low in the moral scale" is first attested 1530s in English, earlier "servile" (1520s). Base metals (c. 1600) were worthless in contrast to noble or precious metals.
base (v.)
"to place on a foundation," 1841, from base (n.). Related: Based; basing.

Example

1. Guangdong province is the nation 's biggest export base .
2. Central costs are spread over a broader base .
3. A year on , a low base flatters the growth rate .
4. I 'm pretty certain he had his own political power base .
5. They tend to pander to base instincts .

more: >How to Use "base" with Example Sentences