base
- base
- 1.
n. & v.
—n.
1 a a part that supports from beneath or serves as a foundation for an object or structure. b a notional structure or entity on which something draws or depends (power base).
2 a principle or starting-point; a basis.
3 esp. Mil. a place from which an operation or activity is directed.
4 a a main or important ingredient of a mixture. b a substance, e.g. water, in combination with which pigment forms paint etc.
5 a substance used as a foundation for make-up.
6 Chem. a substance capable of combining with an acid to form a salt and water and usu. producing hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
7 Math. a number in terms of which other numbers or logarithms are expressed (see RADIX).
8 Archit. the part of a column between the shaft and pedestal or pavement.
9 Geom. a line or surface on which a figure is regarded as standing.
10 Surveying a known line used as a geometrical base for trigonometry.
11 Electronics the middle part of a transistor separating the emitter from the collector.
12 Linguistics a root or stem as the origin of a word or a derivative.
13 Baseball etc. one of the four stations that must be reached in turn when scoring a run.
14 Bot. & Zool. the end at which an organ is attached to the trunk.
15 Heraldry the lowest part of a shield.
—v.tr.
1 (usu. foll. by on, upon) found or establish (a theory based on speculation; his opinion was soundly based).
2 (foll. by at, in, etc.) station (troops were based in Malta).
Phrases and idioms:
base hospital esp. Austral. a hospital in a rural area, or (in warfare) removed from the field of action. base pairing Biochem. complementary binding by means of hydrogen bonds of a purine to a pyrimidine base in opposite strands of nucleic acids. base rate Brit. the interest rate set by the Bank of England, used as the basis for other banks' rates. base unit a unit that is defined arbitrarily and not by combinations of other units.
Etymology: F base or L basis stepping f. Gk
2.
adj.
1 lacking moral worth; cowardly, despicable.
2 menial.
3 not pure; alloyed (base coin).
4 (of a metal) low in value (opp. NOBLE, PRECIOUS).
Derivatives:
basely adv. baseness n.
Etymology: ME in sense 'of small height', f. F bas f. med.L bassus short (in L as a cognomen)
Useful english dictionary.
2012.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
base — base … Dictionnaire des rimes
basé — basé … Dictionnaire des rimes
base — [ baz ] n. f. • XIIe; lat. basis, mot gr. « marche, point d appui » I ♦ A ♦ 1 ♦ Partie inférieure d un corps sur laquelle il porte, il repose. ⇒ appui (point d appui), assiette, assise, 1. dessous, fond, fondement, pied. La base de l édifice… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Base D'or — En mathématiques, le nombre d or, à savoir peut être utilisé comme une base de numération. Ce système est connu sous le nom base d or, ou accessoirement, phinaire (car le symbole pour le nombre d or est la lettre grecque « phi »). Tout… … Wikipédia en Français
base — n Base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork are comparable when meaning something on which another thing is reared or built or by which it is supported or fixed in place. Base may be applied to the lowest part or bottom of something without… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
base — base·ball; base; base·less; base·lin·er; base·ly; base·man; base·ment; base·ness; de·base; de·base·ment; di·a·base; em·base; gnatho·base; gyno·base; im·base; iso·base; phal·lo·base; rheo·base; rim·base; scle·ro·base; sub·base; sur·base;… … English syllables
base — base1 [bās] n. [ME < OFr bas < L basis,BASIS] 1. the thing or part on which something rests; lowest part or bottom; foundation 2. the fundamental or main part, as of a plan, organization, system, theory, etc. 3. the principal or essential… … English World dictionary
Base — (b[=a]s), a. [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. {Bass} a part in music.] 1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Base — or BASE may refer to:A base is a mixture of urine n waste so do not eat it* Base meaning bottom, the lowest part of an object* can mean negative, unfavorable or undesirable in nature. Bad; vile; malicious; evil.In mathematics: *Base (mathematics) … Wikipedia
base — 1. a base de. Locución preposicional que, seguida de un sustantivo, expresa que lo denotado por este es el fundamento o componente principal: «Los [tallarines] verdes [...] están hechos a base de albahaca» (Cisneros Mestizaje [Perú 1995]).… … Diccionario panhispánico de dudas
base — (Del lat. basis, y este del gr. βάσις). 1. f. Fundamento o apoyo principal de algo. 2. Conjunto de personas representadas por un mandatario, delegado o portavoz suyo. U. m. en pl.) 3. Lugar donde se concentra personal y equipo, para, partiendo de … Diccionario de la lengua española
