base

1. 1

   Something from which other things extend; a foundation.countableuncountable

2. 2

   Something from which other things extend; a foundation.; A supporting, lower or bottom component of a structure or object.countableuncountable

   • Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow
3. 3

   The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis.countableuncountable

4. 4

   A site, structure, or both, usually durable and often permanent, for housing military personnel and materiel.countableuncountable

5. 5

   The place where decisions for an organization are made; headquarters.countableuncountable

6. 6

   A basic but essential component or ingredient.countableuncountable

7. 7

   A substance used as a mordant in dyeing.countableuncountable

8. 8

   Foundation: a cosmetic cream to make the face appear uniform.countableuncountable

9. 9

   Any of a class of generally water-soluble compounds that turn red litmus blue and react with acids to form salts.countableuncountable

10. 10

    Important areas in games and sports.; A safe zone in the children's games of tag and hide-and-go-seek.countableuncountable

syn. alkali

ant. acid · apex

1. 1

   To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of.transitive

   • Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.
2. 2

   To be located (at a particular place).transitive

   • Troops have been based in Munich since the end of World War II.
   • Top management decided to base our new Spanish subsidiary in Arévalo (Ávila).
3. 3

   To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer.

   • Apart from time taken out during radio- and chemotherapy, Maurs continued to participate in POW. She would base a flyer in a double balance and make the audience laugh with her clowning antics for two more shows.
4. 4

   To freebase.slang

   • You know he started to base at a hell of a pace / And now it's a disgrace, he's got the pipe in his face

1. 1

   Low in height; short.obsolete

   • The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot.
2. 2

   Low in place or position.

   • I see thy glory like a shooting star / Fall to the base earth from the firmament.
3. 3

   Of low value or degree.obsolete

   • If thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, To die there wanteth but will.
4. 4

   Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.archaic

   • UUhat meanes the mightie Turkiſh Emperor To talke with one ſo baſe as Tamburlaine?
   • a peasant and base swain
5. 5

   Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.

   • a cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind
   • base ingratitude
6. 6

   Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.archaic

   • 'Like this horrible film.' 'Horrible?' Lenina was genuinely astonished. 'But I thought it was lovely.' 'It was base,' he said indignantly, 'it was ignoble.'
7. 7

   Not considered precious or noble.

8. 8

   Alloyed with inferior metal; debased.

   • base coin
   • base bullion
9. 9

   Of illegitimate birth; bastard.obsolete

   • Why bastard? Wherefore base?
10. 10

    Not classical or correct.

    • base Latin

ant. likeable · desirable · admirable · noble

1. 1

   The game of prisoners' bars.UShistoricaluncountable

   • to run the country base
   • So ran they all, as they had bene at bace, / They being chased that did others chase.

1. 1

   Alternative form of BASE.alt-ofalternative