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basis

 - 9 dictionary results

ba⋅sis

  [bey-sis]
Use basis in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
1. the bottom or base of anything; the part on which something stands or rests.
2. anything upon which something is based; fundamental principle; groundwork.
3. the principal constituent; fundamental ingredient.
4. a basic fact, amount, standard, etc., used in making computations, reaching conclusions, or the like: The nurse is paid on an hourly basis. He was chosen on the basis of his college grades.
5. Mathematics. a set of linearly independent elements of a given vector space having the property that every element of the space can be written as a linear combination of the elements of the set.
Origin:
1525–35; < L < Gk básis step, place one stands on, pedestal, equiv. to ba-, base of baínein to walk, step (akin to come ) + -sis -sis; cf. base 1

Synonyms:
1, 2. See base 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ba·sis   (bā'sĭs)   
n.   pl. ba·ses (-sēz')

  1. A foundation upon which something rests.

  2. The chief constituent; the fundamental ingredient: The basis for most liquids is water.

  3. The fundamental principle.

    1. A pattern or schedule for proceeding: on a weekly basis.

    2. A condition for relating or proceeding: a first-name basis; a friendly basis. See Synonyms at base1.


[Middle English, from Latin, from Greek; see gwā- in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

basis 
1571, from L. basis "foundation," from Gk. basis "a step, stand, base," from bainein "go, step" (see come).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Basis

1. A term used to describe the variation between the spot price of a deliverable commodity and the relative price of the futures contract for the same actual that has the shortest duration until maturity.

2. A security's basis is the purchase price after commissions or other expenses. Also known as cost basis or tax basis.

Investopedia Commentary

1. As there are gaps between spot and relative price until expiry of the nearest contract, the basis is not necessarily accurate. In addition to the deviations created because of the time gap between expiry of the futures contract and the spot commodity, product quality, location of delivery, and the actuals may also vary. In general, the basis is used by investors to gauge the profitability of delivery of cash or the actual, and they also use it to search for arbitrage opportunities.

2. This figure is used to calculate capital gains or losses when a security is eventually sold.

Related Links

Futures Fundamentals
Trading the Odds with Arbitrage

See also: Actual, Arbitrage, Basis Grade, Basis Risk, Cash Settlement, Cost Basis, Delivery Month, Narrow Basis, Tax Basis, Wide Basis

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

basis

  1. In futures trading, the difference between the futures price and the spot price. The basis will narrow as a contract moves closer to settlement.

  2. In taxation, the acquisition cost of an asset adjusted for capital distributions (that is, stock dividends). A security's basis is used in calculating gains and losses for tax purposes. Also called cost basis, tax basis. See also adjusted basis.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ba·sis
Pronunciation: 'bA-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ba·ses /-"sEz/
1 : something (as a principle or reason) on which something else is established basis for the statute> —see also RATIONAL BASIS
2 : a basic principle or method; especially : the principle or method by which taxable income is calculated
NOTE: The Internal Revenue Code has set some limits on which method a taxpayer may use for figuring taxable income. For example, a corporation with gross receipts under $5,000,000 may be a cash-basis taxpayer.
ac·cru·al basis
: a method of accounting in which income and expenses are recorded in the period when they are earned or incurred regardless of when the payment is received or made called also accrual method
cash basis
: a method of accounting in which income and expenses are recorded in the period when payment is received or made called also cash method
3 : the value (as cost or fair market value) of an asset used in calculating capital gains or losses for income tax purposes
adjusted basis
: the basis of an asset increased or decreased to reflect changes in value (as through improvement or depreciation)
car·ry·over basis
/'kar-E-"O-v&r-/
: the basis of a donated or transferred asset that is equal to the basis of the asset when it was in the hands of the donor or transferor
NOTE: Carryover basis is generally applied to gifts, transfers in trust, and property acquired from a decedent.
cost basis
: the basis of an asset equal to the amount paid for the asset plus other acquisition costs (as a brokerage fee)
stepped–up basis
/'stept-'&p-/
: a basis (as a carryover or cost basis) that is increased (as to fair market value) by other than an improvement or depreciation adjustment
sub·sti·tut·ed basis
: the basis of property received in exchange for property of a like kind that is equal to the basis of the property given with adjustments for additional consideration received or gains and losses realized
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ba·sis
Pronunciation: 'bA-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ba·ses /-"sEz/
1 : any of various anatomical parts that function as a foundation
2 : BASE 2b
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

basis ba·sis (bā'sĭs)
n. pl. ba·ses (-sēz')
The foundation upon which something, such as an anatomical part, rests.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

basis

see on a first-name basis.

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