base

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: bās, IPA(key): /beɪs/ (Ireland) IPA(key): /beːs/ Hyphenation: base Rhymes: -eɪs Homophone: bass === Etymology 1 === From Middle English base, bas, baas, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). Doublet of basis and bass. ==== Noun ==== base (countable and uncountable, plural bases) Something from which other things extend; a foundation. A supporting, lower or bottom component of a structure or object. The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis. A site, structure, or both, usually durable and often permanent, for housing military personnel and materiel. The place where decisions for an organization are made; headquarters. (cooking, painting, pharmacy) A basic but essential component or ingredient. A substance used as a mordant in dyeing. (cosmetics) Foundation: a cosmetic cream to make the face appear uniform. (chemistry) Any of a class of generally water-soluble compounds that turn red litmus blue and react with acids to form salts. Important areas in games and sports. A safe zone in the children's games of tag and hide-and-go-seek. (baseball) One of the four places that a runner can stand without being subject to being tagged out when the ball is in play. (architecture) The lowermost part of a column, between the shaft and the pedestal or pavement. (biology, biochemistry) A nucleotide's nucleobase in the context of a DNA or RNA biopolymer. (botany) The end of a leaf, petal or similar organ where it is attached to its support. (electronics) The name of the controlling terminal of a bipolar transistor (BJT). (geometry) The lowest side of a triangle or other polygon, or the lowest face of a cone, pyramid or other polyhedron laid flat. (heraldry) The lowest third of a shield (or field), or an ordinary occupying this space, the champagne. (Compare terrace.) (mathematics) A number raised to the power of an exponent. (mathematics) Synonym of radix. (topology) The set of sets from which a topology is generated. (topology) A topological space, looked at in relation to one of its covering spaces, fibrations, or bundles. (group theory) A sequence of elements not jointly stabilized by any nontrivial group element. (acrobatics, cheerleading) In hand-to-hand balance, the person who supports the flyer; the person that remains in contact with the ground. (linguistics) A morpheme (or morphemes) that serves as a basic foundation on which affixes can be attached. (music) Dated form of bass. (military, historical) The smallest kind of cannon. (archaic) The housing of a horse. (historical, sometimes in the plural) A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower. (historical, sometimes in the plural) A kind of armour skirt, of mail or plate, imitating the preceding civilian skirt. Coordinate terms: tonlet, lamboys (obsolete) The lower part of a robe or petticoat. (obsolete) An apron. 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. (politics) A group of voters who almost always support a single party's candidates for elected office. Synonyms: electoral base, political base (Marxism) The forces and relations of production that produce the necessities and amenities of life. Synonym: substructure Antonym: superstructure A material that holds paint or other materials together; a binder. (aviation) Ellipsis of base leg. (slang, uncountable) freebase cocaine ===== Synonyms ===== (chemical compound that will neutralize an acid): alkali ===== Antonyms ===== (antonym(s) of “chemical compound that will neutralize an alkali”): acid (antonym(s) of “end of a leaf”): apex ===== Hyponyms ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== Other terms used in arithmetic operations: Advanced hyperoperations: tetration, pentation, hexation ==== Verb ==== base (third-person singular simple present bases, present participle basing, simple past and past participle based) (transitive) To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of. Synonym: ground (transitive) To be located (at a particular place). (acrobatics, cheerleading) To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer. (slang) To freebase. ===== Derived terms ===== base off base on rebase ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English base, bas, from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus (“low”). Cognate with Spanish bajo, Italian basso and base. ==== Adjective ==== base (comparative baser or more base, superlative basest or most base) (obsolete) Low in height; short. Low in place or position. (obsolete) Of low value or degree. (archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common. Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly. (now rare) Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality. (of a metal) Not considered precious or noble. Alloyed with inferior metal; debased. (obsolete) Of illegitimate birth; bastard. Not classical or correct. Obsolete form of bass. (law) 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. ===== Usage notes ===== Said of fellows, motives, occupations, etc. ===== Synonyms ===== (low, short): little, petite, short (of position): low-lying, lowland (of value): See Thesaurus:insignificant (vulgar, common): common, low-born, lowly, plebeian, vulgar (immoral): See Thesaurus:despicable or Thesaurus:evil (of inferior quality): See Thesaurus:low-quality (describing metals): (of illegitimate birth): See Thesaurus:illegitimate (not classical): (not held by honourable service): ===== Antonyms ===== likeable desirable admirable noble ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === Probably a specific use of Etymology 1, above; perhaps also a development of the plural of bar. ==== Noun ==== base (uncountable) (now chiefly US, historical) The game of prisoners' bars. [from 15th c.] === Etymology 4 === Variant forms. ==== Noun ==== base Alternative form of BASE. ===== Derived terms ===== base jumper base jumping === Further reading === base on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Base in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) === References === “base”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “base”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === Abes, EABs, EBSA, baes, seba == Afrikaans == === Noun === base plural of baas == Asturian == === Etymology === From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbase/ [ˈba.se] Rhymes: -ase Syllabification: ba‧se === Noun === base f (plural bases) base ==== Related terms ==== == Bambara == === Noun === base a bush taxi, a common type of public transit Synonym: duurunin == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈba.zə] IPA(key): (Valencia) [ˈba.ze] === Noun === base f (plural bases) base basis grounding foundation === Noun === base m or f by sense (plural bases) (sports) playmaker (basketball) point guard ==== Derived terms ==== base de dades interbase ==== Related terms ==== basar basal bàsic === Further reading === “base”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “base” in termcat, Centre de Terminologia, 2026. == Czech == === Etymology 1 === ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): [ˈbasɛ] ==== Noun ==== base dative/locative singular of basa vocative/locative singular of bas === Etymology 2 === ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): [ˈbaːzɛ] ==== Noun ==== base f obsolete form of báze ===== Declension ===== == Danish == === Etymology === From French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs). Doublet of basis and also related distantly to komme. === Noun === base c (singular definite basen, plural indefinite baser) (chemistry) base (generally understood to be a Brønsted-Lowry base) (military) base headquarters ==== Declension ==== ==== Synonyms ==== (headquarters): hovedkvarter ==== Descendants ==== → Icelandic: basi m == Dutch == === Alternative forms === basis (obsolete in this sense) === Etymology === Borrowed from French base, from Latin basis. Doublet of basis. Also a distant doublet of komst, via Proto-Indo-European *gʷḿ̥tis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaː.zə/ Hyphenation: ba‧se Rhymes: -aːzə === Noun === base f (plural basen, diminutive basetje n) (chemistry) base (class of compounds), alkali ==== Synonyms ==== loog ==== Antonyms ==== zuur ==== Derived terms ==== basisch basenpaar basenvolgorde Lewisbase ==== Descendants ==== → Indonesian: basa === References === “base” in Woordenlijst Nederlandse Taal – Officiële Spelling, Nederlandse Taalunie. [the official spelling word list for the Dutch language] == French == === Etymology === Inherited from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baz/ ~ /bɑz/ (Quebec, formal) IPA(key): [bɑːz] (Quebec, informal) IPA(key): [bɑʊ̯z] === Noun === base f (plural bases) base (bottom part of something) base (safe place) base, basis (fundamental belief) (chemistry) base ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Czech: báze → Danish: base→ Icelandic: basi m → Norwegian: → Norwegian Bokmål: base → Norwegian Nynorsk: base → Romanian: bază → Russian: база (baza)→ Armenian: բազա (baza)→ Azerbaijani:Cyrillic script: базаLatin script: baza→ Crimean Tatar:Cyrillic script: базаLatin script: baza→ Georgian: ბაზა (baza)→ Kazakh:Arabic script: بازا (baza)Cyrillic script: база (baza)→ Mongolian:Mongolian script:Cyrillic script: бааз (baaz)→ Tuvan: бааза (baaza) → Vietnamese: bazơ ⇒ French: baser→ Dutch: baseren→ Norwegian:Norwegian Bokmål: basereNorwegian Nynorsk: basere→ Romanian: baza === Further reading === “base”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Galician == === Etymology === From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbase/ [ˈba.s̺ɪ] Rhymes: -ase Hyphenation: ba‧se === Noun === base f (plural bases) base ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “base”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 “base”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026 == Italian == === Etymology === From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ze/ Rhymes: -aze Hyphenation: bà‧se === Noun === base f (plural basi) base, alkaline basis (figurative) mainstay ==== Antonyms ==== sommità, altezza ==== Related terms ==== basare basico basilare di base in base a == Latin == === Noun === base ablative singular of basis == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷémtis. ==== Alternative forms ==== baas, bace, bas, basse ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈbaːz(ə)/ IPA(key): /bas/, /baːs/ (influenced by the adjective bas) ==== Noun ==== base (plural bases) A foundation or base; the bottom of a building. The foundation, base, or bottom of a column, statue, or vase. (rare) Padding inserted below a horse's bridle. (rare) A hand's palm; the section of a hand below the fingers. (rare) The bottom portion of a dress. (rare, alchemy) The mix of metals used as a base for alchemical operations. ===== Descendants ===== English: base Scots: base ===== References ===== === Etymology 2 === ==== Adjective ==== base alternative form of bas === Etymology 3 === ==== Noun ==== base alternative form of bace == Moore == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bà.se/ === Verb === base to leave to cancel, stop, cease to abandon, throw away == Northern Sami == === Pronunciation === (Kautokeino) IPA(key): /ˈpase/ === Verb === base inflection of bassit: present indicative connegative second-person singular imperative imperative connegative == Norwegian Bokmål == === Etymology === From English base, and French base (in chemistry). Ultimately from Latin basis and a doublet of basis. === Noun === base m (definite singular basen, indefinite plural baser, definite plural basene) (chemistry, military, general) a base ==== Derived terms ==== === References === “base” in The Bokmål Dictionary. == Norwegian Nynorsk == === Etymology === From English base, and French base (in chemistry). Ultimately from Latin basis and a doublet of basis. === Noun === base m (definite singular basen, indefinite plural basar, definite plural basane) (chemistry, military, general) a base ==== Derived terms ==== basisk database marinebase militærbase === References === “base” in The Nynorsk Dictionary. == Old French == === Etymology === From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Noun === base oblique singular, f (oblique plural bases, nominative singular base, nominative plural bases) base (bottom part; supporting part) ==== Descendants ==== French: base (see there for further descendants) → Middle English: base, baas, bace, bas, basseEnglish: baseScots: base === References === Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1881) (base, supplement) == Portuguese == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -azi, -azɨ Hyphenation: ba‧se === Noun === base f (plural bases) basis base (chemistry) base Antonym: ácido groundwork (cosmetics) foundation ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “base”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “base”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2026, →ISBN “base”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Rukai == === Etymology 1 === From Japanese バス (basu). ==== Noun ==== base (vehicles) bus === Etymology 2 === ==== Noun ==== base broth == Spanish == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbase/ [ˈba.se] Rhymes: -ase Syllabification: ba‧se === Etymology 1 === From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). ==== Noun ==== base f (plural bases) base basis (linear algebra) basis Base on the Spanish Wikipedia.Wikipedia es grounding (cosmetics) foundation (basketball) point guard Base on the Spanish Wikipedia.Wikipedia es (baseball) base (Marxism) base (forces and relations of production that produce the necessities and amenities of life) Synonym: infraestructura Antonym: superestructura ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== base inflection of basar: first/third-person singular present subjunctive third-person singular imperative === Further reading === “base”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Tagalog == === Etymology === Borrowed from Spanish base (“basis”). The baseball definition is from English base, but pronounced the same as the Spanish word. === Pronunciation === (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈbase/ [ˈbaː.sɛ] Rhymes: -ase Syllabification: ba‧se === Noun === base (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜐᜒ) base; basis Synonyms: batayan, tuntunin, pamantayan (baseball) base (one of the three places that a runner can stand in safety) (chemistry) base (chemical compound that will neutralize an acid) Synonym: alkali ==== Derived terms ==== == Venetan == === Adjective === base f feminine plural of baso