bottom

n., adj., & v.
—n.
1 a the lowest point or part (bottom of the stairs). b the part on which a thing rests (bottom of a saucepan). c the underneath part (scraped the bottom of the car). d the furthest or inmost part (bottom of the garden).
2 colloq. a the buttocks. b the seat of a chair etc.
3 a the less honourable, important, or successful end of a table, a class, etc. (at the bottom of the list of requirements). b a person occupying this place (he's always bottom of the class).
4 the ground under the water of a lake, a river, etc. (swam until he touched the bottom).
5 the basis; the origin (he's at the bottom of it).
6 the essential character; reality.
7 Naut. a the keel or hull of a ship. b a ship, esp. as a cargo-carrier.
8 staying power; endurance.
—adj.
1 lowest (bottom button).
2 last (got the bottom score).
—v.
1 tr. put a bottom to (a chair, saucepan, etc.).
2 intr. (of a ship) reach or touch the bottom.
3 tr. find the extent or real nature of; work out.
4 tr. (usu. foll. by on) base (an argument etc.) (reasoning bottomed on logic).
5 tr. touch the bottom or lowest point of.
Phrases and idioms:
at bottom basically, essentially. be at the bottom of have caused. bet one's bottom dollar sl. stake all. bottom dog = UNDERDOG. bottom drawer Brit. linen etc. stored by a woman in preparation for her marriage. bottom falls out collapse occurs. bottom gear see GEAR. bottom line colloq. the underlying or ultimate truth; the ultimate, esp. financial, criterion. bottom out reach the lowest level. bottoms up! a call to drain one's glass. bottom up upside-down. get to the bottom of fully investigate and explain. knock the bottom out of prove (a thing) worthless.
Derivatives:
bottommost adj.
Etymology: OE botm f. Gmc