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English Dictionary

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 base base /ˈbeɪs/

adjective

  1. () Serving as or forming a base  ( basal , base )
    serving as or forming a base
     The painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
    the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
  2. () Of low birth or station (base' is archaic in this sense)  ( baseborn , humble , lowly , base )
    of low birth or station (base' is archaic in this sense)
     Baseborn wretches with dirty faces
    baseborn wretches with dirty faces
     Of humble (or lowly) birth
    of humble (or lowly) birth
  3. Debased; not genuine  ( base )
    debased; not genuine
     An attempt to eliminate the base coinage
    an attempt to eliminate the base coinage
  4. [Archaic] Illegitimate  ( base [Archaic] , baseborn [Archaic] )
    illegitimate
  5. Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality  ( base , meanspirited , mean )
    having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
     That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
    that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
     Taking a mean advantage
    taking a mean advantage
     Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
    chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
     Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
    something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
  6. Not adhering to ethical or moral principles  ( base , immoral )
    not adhering to ethical or moral principles
     Base and unpatriotic motives
    base and unpatriotic motives
     A base, degrading way of life
    a base, degrading way of life
     Cheating is dishonorable
    cheating is dishonorable
     They considered colonialism immoral
    they considered colonialism immoral
     Unethical practices in handling public funds
    unethical practices in handling public funds
  7. (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal  ( base )
    (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal
     Base coins of aluminum
    base coins of aluminum
     A base metal
    a base metal

noun

  1. () (military) installation from which a military force initiates operations  ( base of operations , base )
    (military) installation from which a military force initiates operations
     The attack wiped out our forward bases
    the attack wiped out our forward bases
  2. () A place that the runner must touch before scoring  ( bag , base )
    a place that the runner must touch before scoring
     He scrambled to get back to the bag
    he scrambled to get back to the bag
  3. () Lowest support of a structure  ( fundament , groundwork , substructure , base , foot , foundation , understructure )
    lowest support of a structure
     It was built on a base of solid rock
    it was built on a base of solid rock
     He stood at the foot of the tower
    he stood at the foot of the tower
  4. () A support or foundation  ( pedestal , base , stand )
    a support or foundation
     The base of the lamp
    the base of the lamp
  5. () The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun, developed, calculated or explained  ( cornerstone , foundation , fundament , base , basis , groundwork )
    the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun, developed, calculated or explained
     The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
    the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
  6. () A lower limit  ( base , floor )
    a lower limit
     The government established a wage floor
    the government established a wage floor
  7. () (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment  ( base )
    (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment
     The base of the skull
    the base of the skull
  8. () The bottom or lowest part  ( base )
    the bottom or lowest part
     The base of the mountain
    the base of the mountain
  9. (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector  ( base )
    (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
  10. A flat bottom on which something is intended to sit  ( base )
    a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit
     A tub should sit on its own base
    a tub should sit on its own base
  11. The principal ingredient of a mixture  ( base )
    the principal ingredient of a mixture
     Glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
    glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
     He told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
    he told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
     Everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
    everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
  12. The stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area  ( base , infrastructure )
    the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area
     The industrial base of Japan
    the industrial base of Japan
  13. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed  ( base , radical , root word , root , stem , theme )
    (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
     Thematic vowels are part of the stem
    thematic vowels are part of the stem
  14. The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end  ( base , home )
    the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
  15. (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place  ( base , radix )
    (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place
     10 is the radix of the decimal system
    10 is the radix of the decimal system
  16. The most important or necessary part of something  ( base , basis )
    the most important or necessary part of something
     The basis of this drink is orange juice
    the basis of this drink is orange juice
  17. The bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed  ( base )
    the bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed
     The base of the triangle
    the base of the triangle
  18. Any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water  ( base , alkali )
    any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
     Bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
    bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
  19. A phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)  ( base , nucleotide )
    a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)

verb

  1. () Use as a basis for; found on  ( found , ground , establish , base )
    use as a basis for; found on
     Base a claim on some observation
    base a claim on some observation
  2. Use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes  ( base , free-base )
    use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
  3. Situate as a center of operations  ( base )
    situate as a center of operations
     We will base this project in the new lab
    we will base this project in the new lab

 Base

    noun

    1. A terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups; has cells in more than 50 countries  ( al Qaeda , al Qaida , al-Qa'ida , al-Qaeda , al-Qaida , Base , Qaeda )
      a terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups; has cells in more than 50 countries