base
verb
- to found something, e.g. an argument; frequently used with on
- be located in
adjective
- function as the base part of a larger entity
noun
- substance that can accept hydrogen ions (protons) or more generally, donate a pair of valence electrons
- location on baseball field
- (in exponentiation), number b in an expression of the form b^n
- architectural element, part of a column or podest of a sculpture
- part of a geometric figure
- part of a cartridge case above the rim
- supporters of political party
- function as the base part of a larger entity
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /beɪs/ / /beːs/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷémtis Proto-Hellenic *gʷə́tis Ancient Greek βάσις (básis)bor.? Ancient Greek βαθύς (bathús)bor.? Oscanbor.? Celticbor.? Late Latin bassus Old French basbor. Middle English bas English base From Middle English base, bas, from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus (“low”). Cognate with Spanish bajo, Italian basso and base.
- Low in height; short.
“The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot.”
- Low in place or position.
“I see thy glory like a shooting star / Fall to the base earth from the firmament.”
- Of low value or degree.
“If thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, To die there wanteth but will.”
- Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.
“UUhat meanes the mightie Turkiſh Emperor To talke with one ſo baſe as Tamburlaine?”
“Wherefore should I / Stand in the plague of custome, and permit / The curiosity of Nations, to deprive me? For that I am some twelve, or fourteen Moonshines / Lag of a Brother? Why Bastard? Wherefore base? / When my Dimensions are as well compact, My minde as generous, and my shape as true / As honest madams issue? Why brand they us / With Base? With basenes Bastardie? Base, Base?”
- Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
“a cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind”
“base ingratitude”
- Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.
“'Like this horrible film.' 'Horrible?' Lenina was genuinely astonished. 'But I thought it was lovely.' 'It was base,' he said indignantly, 'it was ignoble.'”
- Not considered precious or noble.
- Alloyed with inferior metal; debased.
“base coin”
“base bullion”
- Of illegitimate birth; bastard.
“Why bastard? Wherefore base?”
- Not classical or correct.
“base Latin”
- Obsolete form of bass.
“the base tone of a violin”
- Relating to feudal land tenure held by a tenant from a lord in exchange for services that are seen as unworthy for noblemen to perform, such as villeinage.
“A base estate is one held by services not honourable, or held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant is a base tenant.”
name
Etymology: From base (“short”).
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
noun
Etymology: Variant forms.
- Alternative form of BASE.
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷémtis Proto-Hellenic *gʷə́tis Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs)bor. Latin basis Old French basebor. Middle English base English base From Middle English base, bas, baas, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). Doublet of basis and bass.
- To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of.
“Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.”
- To be located (at a particular place).
“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).”
- 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.”
- To freebase.
“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”