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base

1  [beys] noun, adjective, verb, based, bas⋅ing.
Use base in a Sentence
–noun
1. the bottom support of anything; that on which a thing stands or rests: a metal base for the table.
2. a fundamental principle or groundwork; foundation; basis: the base of needed reforms.
3. the bottom layer or coating, as of makeup or paint.
4. Architecture.
a. the distinctively treated portion of a column or pier below the shaft or shafts.
b. the distinctively treated lowermost portion of any construction, as a monument, exterior wall, etc.
5. Botany, Zoology.
a. the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment.
b. the point of attachment.
6. the principal element or ingredient of anything, considered as its fundamental part: face cream with a lanolin base; paint with a lead base.
7. that from which a commencement, as of action or reckoning, is made; a starting point or point of departure.
8. Baseball.
a. any of the four corners of the diamond, esp. first, second, or third base. Compare home plate.
b. a square canvas sack containing sawdust or some other light material, for marking first, second, or third base.
9. a starting line or point for runners, racing cars, etc.
10. (in hockey and other games) the goal.
11. Military.
a. a fortified or more or less protected area or place from which the operations of an army or an air force proceed.
b. a supply installation for a large military force.
12. Geometry. the line or surface forming the part of a figure that is most nearly horizontal or on which it is supposed to stand.
13. Mathematics.
a. the number that serves as a starting point for a logarithmic or other numerical system.
b. a collection of subsets of a topological space having the property that every open set in the given topology can be written as the union of sets of the collection.
c. a collection of neighborhoods of a point such that every neighborhood of the point contains one from the collection.
d. a collection of sets of a given filter such that every set in the filter is contained in some set in the collection.
14. Also called base line. Surveying. See under triangulation (def. 1).
15. Painting.
a. vehicle (def. 10).
b. Also called carrier. inert matter, used in the preparation of lakes, onto which a coloring compound is precipitated.
16. Photography. a thin, flexible layer of cellulose triacetate or similar material that holds the light-sensitive film emulsion and other coatings, esp. on motion-picture film.
17. Chemistry.
a. a compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt, as ammonia, calcium hydroxide, or certain nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
b. the hydroxide of a metal or of an electropositive element or group.
c. a group or molecule that takes up or accepts protons.
d. a molecule or ion containing an atom with a free pair of electrons that can be donated to an acid; an electron-pair donor.
e. any of the purine and pyrimidine compounds found in nucleic acids: the purines adenine and guanine and the pyrimidines cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
18. Grammar. the part of a complex word, consisting of one or more morphemes, to which derivational or inflectional affixes may be added, as want in unwanted or biolog- in biological. Compare root 1 (def. 11), stem 1 (def. 16).
19. Linguistics. the component of a generative grammar containing the lexicon and phrase-structure rules that generate the deep structure of sentences.
20. Electronics.
a. an electrode or terminal on a transistor other than the emitter or collector electrodes or terminals.
b. the part of an incandescent lamp or electron tube that includes the terminals for making electrical connection to a circuit or power supply.
21. Stock Exchange. the level at which a security ceases a decline in price.
22. Heraldry. the lower part of an escutcheon.
23. bases, Armor. a tonlet formed of two shaped steel plates assembled side by side.
24. Jewelry. pavilion (def. 6).
25. in base, Heraldry. in the lower part of an escutcheon.
–adjective
26. serving as or forming a base: The walls will need a base coat and two finishing coats.
–verb (used with object)
27. to make or form a base or foundation for.
28. to establish, as a fact or conclusion (usually fol. by on or upon): He based his assumption of her guilt on the fact that she had no alibi.
29. to place or establish on a base or basis; ground; found (usually fol. by on or upon): Our plan is based on a rising economy.
30. to station, place, or situate (usually fol. by at or on): He is based at Fort Benning. The squadron is based on a carrier.
–verb (used without object)
31. to have a basis; be based (usually fol. by on or upon): Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.
32. to have or maintain a base: I believe they had based on Greenland at one time.
—Idioms
33. get to first base. first base (def. 2).
34. off base,
a. Baseball. not touching a base: The pitcher caught him off base and, after a quick throw, he was put out by the second baseman.
b. Informal. badly mistaken: The police were way off base when they tried to accuse her of the theft.
35. on base, Baseball. having reached a base or bases: Two men are on base.
36. touch base with, to make contact with: They've touched base with every political group on campus.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME (n.) < MF < L basis basis; cf. prisoner's base

Synonyms:
1. Base, basis, foundation refer to anything upon which a structure is built and upon which it rests. Base usually refers to a literal supporting structure: the base of a statue. Basis more often refers to a figurative support: the basis of a report. Foundation implies a solid, secure understructure: the foundation of a skyscraper or a rumor.

base

2  [beys] adjective, bas⋅er, bas⋅est, noun
–adjective
1. morally low; without estimable personal qualities; dishonorable; meanspirited; selfish; cowardly.
2. of little or no value; worthless: hastily composed of base materials.
3. debased or counterfeit: an attempt to eliminate the base coinage.
4. characteristic of or befitting an inferior person or thing.
5. of illegitimate birth.
6. not classical or refined: base language.
7. Old English Law. held by tenure less than freehold in return for a service viewed as somewhat demeaning to the tenant.
8. Archaic.
a. of humble origin or station.
b. of small height.
c. low in place, position, or degree: base servitude.
9. Obsolete. deep or grave in sound; bass: the base tones of a piano.
–noun
10. Music Obsolete. bass 1 (defs. 3, 4).
Origin:
1350–1400; ME bas < OF < LL bassus low, short, perh. of Oscan orig.

Related forms:
basely, adverb
baseness, noun

Synonyms:
1. despicable, contemptible. See mean 2 . 2. poor, inferior, cheap, tawdry. 3. fake, spurious. 4. servile, ignoble, abject, slavish, menial.

pa⋅vil⋅ion

  [puh-vil-yuhn]
–noun
1. a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.
2. any of a number of separate or attached buildings forming a hospital or the like.
3. Architecture. a projecting element of a façade, used esp. at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower.
4. a tent, esp. a large and elaborate one.
5. a small, ornamental building in a garden.
6. Also called base. Jewelry. the part of a cut gem below the girdle.
–verb (used with object)
7. to shelter in or as if in a pavilion.
8. to furnish with pavilions.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME pavilon < OF paveillon < L pāpiliōn- (s. of pāpiliō) butterfly

tri⋅an⋅gu⋅la⋅tion

  [trahy-ang-gyuh-ley-shuhn]
–noun Surveying, Navigation.
1. a technique for establishing the distance between any two points, or the relative position of two or more points, by using such points as vertices of a triangle or series of triangles, such that each triangle has a side of known or measurable length (base or base line) that permits the size of the angles of the triangle and the length of its other two sides to be established by observations taken either upon or from the two ends of the base line.
2. the triangles thus formed and measured.
Origin:
1810–20; < ML triangulātiōn- (s. of triangulātiō) the making of triangles. See triangulate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To base
base 1   (bās)   
n.  
  1. The lowest or bottom part: the base of a cliff; the base of a lamp.
  2. Biology
    1. The part of a plant or animal organ that is nearest to its point of attachment.
    2. The point of attachment of such an organ.
    3. A supporting part or layer; a foundation: a skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
    4. A basic or underlying element; infrastructure: the nation's industrial base.
    5. Games A starting point, safety area, or goal.
    6. Baseball Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
    7. A fortified center of operations.
    8. A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
    9. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
    10. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    11. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
    12. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    13. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    14. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    15. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    16. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    17. The electrode attached to this region.
    1. A supporting part or layer; a foundation: a skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
    2. A basic or underlying element; infrastructure: the nation's industrial base.
    3. Games A starting point, safety area, or goal.
    4. Baseball Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
    5. A fortified center of operations.
    6. A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
    7. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
    8. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    9. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
    10. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    11. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    12. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    13. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    14. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    15. The electrode attached to this region.
  4. The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis.
  5. A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent: a paint with an oil base.
  6. The fact, observation, or premise from which a reasoning process is begun.
    1. Games A starting point, safety area, or goal.
    2. Baseball Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
    3. A fortified center of operations.
    4. A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
    5. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
    6. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    7. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
    8. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    9. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    10. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    11. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    12. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    13. The electrode attached to this region.
  8. A center of organization, supply, or activity; a headquarters.
    1. A fortified center of operations.
    2. A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
    3. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
    4. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    5. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
    6. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    7. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    8. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    9. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    10. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    11. The electrode attached to this region.
  10. A facial cosmetic used to even out the complexion or provide a surface for other makeup; a foundation.
  11. Architecture The lowest part of a structure, such as a wall, considered as a separate unit: the base of a column.
  12. Heraldry The lower part of a shield.
  13. Linguistics A morpheme or morphemes regarded as a form to which affixes or other bases may be added.
  14. Mathematics
    1. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
    2. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    3. The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
    4. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    5. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    6. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    7. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    8. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    9. The electrode attached to this region.
  15. A line used as a reference for measurement or computations.
  16. Chemistry
    1. Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
    2. A substance that yields hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water.
    3. A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
    4. A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
    5. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    6. The electrode attached to this region.
  17. Electronics
    1. The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
    2. The electrode attached to this region.
  18. One of the nitrogen-containing purines (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) that occurs attached to the sugar component of DNA or RNA.
adj.  
  1. Forming or serving as a base: a base layer of soil.
  2. Situated at or near the base or bottom: a base camp for the mountain climbers.
  3. Chemistry Of, relating to, or containing a base.
tr.v.   based, bas·ing, bas·es
  1. To form or provide a base for: based the new company in Portland.
  2. To find a basis for; establish: based her conclusions on the report; a film based on a best-selling novel.
  3. To assign to a base; station: troops based in the Middle East.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin basis, from Greek; see gwā- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These nouns all pertain to what underlies and supports. Base is applied chiefly to material objects: the wide base of the pyramid.
Basis is used in a nonphysical sense: "Healthy scepticism is the basis of all accurate observation" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Foundation often stresses firmness of support for something of relative magnitude: "Our flagrant disregard for the law attacks the foundation of this society" (Peter D. Relic).
Ground is used figuratively in the plural to mean a justifiable reason: grounds for divorce.
Groundwork usually has the sense of a necessary preliminary: "It [the Universal Declaration of Human Rights] has laid the groundwork for the world's war crimes tribunals" (Hillary Rodham Clinton).
base 2   (bās)   
adj.   bas·er, bas·est
    1. Having or showing a contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish lack of human decency. See Synonyms at mean2.
    2. Devoid of high values or ethics: a base, degrading way of life.
    3. Inferior in value or quality.
  2. Containing inferior substances: a base metal.
  3. Archaic Of low birth, rank, or position.
  4. Obsolete Short in stature.
n.   Obsolete
A bass singer or voice.

[Middle English bas, low, from Old French, from Medieval Latin bassus.]
base'ly adv., base'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  base
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  See base number
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Language Translation for : base
Spanish: base,
German: die Basis, das Unterteil,
Japanese: 基部
More Translations »

Base

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] --Shak.

2. Low in place or position. [Obs.] --Shak.

3. Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A pleasant and base swain." --Bacon.

4. Illegitimate by birth; bastard. [Archaic]

Why bastard? wherefore base? --Shak.

5. Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.

6. Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.

7. Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind." --Robynson (More's Utopia). "Base ingratitude." --Milton.

8. Not classical or correct. "Base Latin." --Fuller.

9. Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin. [In this sense, commonly written bass.]

10. (Law) Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant.

Base fee, formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note under Fee, n., 4.

Base metal. See under Metal.

Syn: Dishonorable; worthless; ignoble; low-minded; infamous; sordid; degraded.

Usage: Base, Vile, Mean. These words, as expressing moral qualities, are here arranged in the order of their strength, the strongest being placed first. Base marks a high degree of moral turpitude; vile and mean denote, in different degrees, the want of what is valuable or worthy of esteem. What is base excites our abhorrence; what is vile provokes our disgust or indignation; what is mean awakens contempt. Base is opposed to high-minded; vile, to noble; mean, to liberal or generous. Ingratitude is base; sycophancy is vile; undue compliances are mean.

Base

Base\, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ? a stepping step, a base, pedestal, fr. ? to go, step, akin to E. come. Cf. Basis, and see Come.]

1. The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue. "The base of mighty mountains." --Prescott.

2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.

3. (Arch.) (a) The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented. (b) The lower part of a complete architectural design, as of a monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate piece of furniture or decoration.

4. (Bot.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.

5. (Chem.) The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a salt; -- applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their property of forming salts with acids.

6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound.

7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. --Ure.

8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.

9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.

10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.

11. [See Base low.] A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base. [Now commonly written bass.]

The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar. --Dryden.

12. (Mil.) A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.

13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.]

14. (Zo["o]l.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.

15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal.

16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.

17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.

18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.]

19. pl. A kind of skirt ( often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower. [Obs.]

20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.]

21. An apron. [Obs.] "Bakers in their linen bases." --Marston.

22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games.

To their appointed base they went. --Dryden.

23. (Surv.) A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles. --Lyman.

24. A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars. "To run the country base." --Shak.

25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.

Altern base. See under Altern.

Attic base. (Arch.) See under Attic.

Base course. (Arch.) (a) The first or lower course of a foundation wall, made of large stones of a mass of concrete; -- called also foundation course. (b) The architectural member forming the transition between the basement and the wall above.

Base hit (Baseball), a hit, by which the batsman, without any error on the part of his opponents, is able to reach the first base without being put out.

Base line. (a) A main line taken as a base, as in surveying or in military operations. (b) A line traced round a cannon at the rear of the vent.

Base plate, the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the steam engine; the bed plate.

Base ring (Ordnance), a projecting band of metal around the breech, connected with the body of the gun by a concave molding. --H. L. Scott.

Base

Base\ (b[=a]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Based (b[=a]sd); p. pr. & vb. n. Basing.] [From Base, n.] To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon. --Bacon.

Base

Base\, v. t. [See Base, a., and cf. Abase.]

1. To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [Obs.]

If any . . . based his pike. --Sir T. North.

2. To reduce the value of; to debase. [Obs.]

Metals which we can not base. --Bacon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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base

Any of a number of bitter-tasting, caustic materials. Technically, a material that produces negative ions in solution. A base is the opposite of an acid and has a pH of 7 to 14. A given amount of a base added to the same amount of an acid neutralizes the acid; water and a salt are produced. Alkalis are bases; ammonia is a common base.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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base  (n.)
c.1325, from O.Fr. bas, from L. basis "foundation," from Gk. basis "step, pedestal," from bainein "to step" (see come). The military sense is from 1860. The chemical sense (1810) was introduced in Fr. 1754 by Fr. chemist Guillaume-François Rouelle (1703-70). The verb meaning "to place on a foundation" is from 1841.

base  (adj.)
1393, from O.Fr. bas, from L.L. bassus "thick, stumpy, low," possibly from Oscan, or Celtic, or related to Gk. basson, comp. of bathys "deep." Figurative sense of "low in the moral scale" is first attested 1535, earlier "servile" (1523). Base metals (1607) were worthless in contrast to noble or precious metals.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: base
Pronunciation: 'bAs
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural bas·es /'bA-s&z/
1 : thatportion of a bodily organ or part by which it is attached to another more central structure of the organism base of the thumb>
2 a : the usually inactiveingredient of a preparation serving as the vehicle for the active medicinal preparation base of an ointment> b : the chief active ingredient of a preparationcalled also basis
3 a : any of various typically water-soluble and bitter tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7, are capable of reacting with an acidto form a salt, and are molecules or ions able to take up a proton from an acid or are substances able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid —compare ALKALI b : any of the five purine or pyrimidine bases of DNA and RNA that include cytosine, guanine, adenine,thymine, and uracil
4 : FREEBASE —based /'bAst/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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base (bās)
n.

  1. The part of an organ nearest its point of attachment.
  2. A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent of a mixture.
  3. Any of a large class of compounds, including the hydroxides and oxides of metals, having a bitter taste, a slippery solution, the capacity to turn litmus blue, and to react with acids to form salts.
  4. A molecular or ionic substance capable of combining with a proton to form a new substance. Also called Brønsted base.
  5. A nitrogen-containing organic compound that combines in such a manner.
  6. A substance that provides a pair of electrons for a covalent bond with an acid.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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base   (bās)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Chemistry
    1. Any of a class of compounds that form hydroxyl ions (OH) when dissolved in water, and whose aqueous solutions react with acids to form salts. Bases turn red litmus paper blue and have a pH greater than 7. Their aqueous solutions have a bitter taste. Compare acid.
    2. See nitrogen base.
    3. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn. The base can be, but is not always, the bottom part of the figure.
    4. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    5. The number that is raised to a particular power in a given mathematical expression. In the expression an, a is the base.
  2. Mathematics
    1. The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn. The base can be, but is not always, the bottom part of the figure.
    2. The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
    3. The number that is raised to a particular power in a given mathematical expression. In the expression an, a is the base.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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base mathematics
radix.

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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base

see get to first base; off base; touch base.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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