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base

base

179 1.0
The bottom part that supports something, for example an organ or object
  • noun
  • /beɪs/
: base
  • Dancing Fox and Talon sat together at the base of a tall basalt ridge.
  • base layer
  • base of the skull
  • base of the tongue

But in some respects she's got a broader base to draw upon.

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Examples

  • You should check the base of the lamp to ensure it's stable before using it.

  • The filling was good, the base was terrible.

  • I made this base for my chop saw.

  • The first step would be to create a base on Mars with power.

  • The windrows were approximately nine feet wide at the base and four feet tall.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The Washington monument is 55 feet at the base and 555 feet high.

  • The stela is a stone monument erected at the base of a stairway of a remodeled temple.

    Academic text (1991)
  • They said one flew into the Senate itself, carrying a sprig of laurel, which it dropped at the base of Pompey's statue.

  • The workers carefully installed the concrete at the base of the new building.

  • He placed the flower pot on a stand to make it more visible at the base of the window.

Synonyms

bottom
vsbase
∞ 1.0

The lowest part or surface of a thing, often under water

is the more specific support or structural foundation rather than any low side
stand
vsbase
264 2.5

A piece of furniture that holds or shows things

is the broader term for a bottom support beyond furniture uses
foundation of
vsbase
116 3.5

A basic idea that people build other things on

is the concrete bottom or support rather than abstract underlying principles
foot
vsbase
79 1.0

The lowest part of something on which it stands

is a wider term for lower parts of objects, structures, or body parts
bed
vsbase
  • Specialized
77 5.2

The bottom layer of earth or rock that supports a road

is broader and covers manmade as well as natural bottom parts
foundation
vsbase
  • Specialized
69 3.6

The lowest part of a building that supports and spreads its weight

is the general bottom support for objects or body parts rather than only buildings
backbone of
vsbase
31 3.4

The main part that supports a system or group

is the literal bottom or support part rather than the chief element metaphorically
pedestal
vsbase
21 4.5

A base that holds a statue, column, or vase

is the general bottom support term, not only for display objects
bedrock
vsbase
21 4.2

The basic principles that support a system, idea, or group

is the physical or literal bottom part rather than metaphorical principles
butt
vsbase
20 7.1

The thick end of something like a handle or stick

is a more general word for the supporting or foundational bottom part
substructure
vsbase
4 7.2

The parts under a building or system that hold it up

is the simpler label for the bottom or supporting part overall
substratum
vsbase
2 8.9

A layer under something that forms its base, like rock under ruins

is the everyday concrete term for a bottom support or part
footing
vsbase
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A wide base under a building that spreads its weight

is a broader term for any bottom support not only load spreading parts
understructure
vsbase
  • Specialized
1 7.3

The strong base under a building that holds it up

covers any bottom support including simpler or nonbuilding cases
baseplate
vsbase
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A flat plate under a machine that gives support

is more general and includes nonflat bottom parts too
fundament
vsbase
  • Archaic
1 9.5

The lowest part of a building that supports it

is the everyday general word for that same supporting part
soleplate
vsbase
1 7.1

A flat plate fixed at the bottom of an iron or wall frame that touches a surface

is the broad word for any bottom support, not only plates
subbase
vsbase
  • Specialized
9.3

The bottom part of a base that supports the parts above

is the general bottom support term beyond architectural molding

Idioms

5 7.7

To make the first real progress in work or a relationship

2 9.6

Close to having sex with someone you are dating

A funny phrase people use online to say they have won

To turn completely upside down while falling

Compounds

58 3.4

A place at the start of a trip for climbing or hiking where people rest and keep supplies

air base
  • Specialized
55 3.3

A military place where people keep, fix, and fly planes and helicopters

47 3.2

A group of people who strongly support someone like a singer or sports team

36 3.4

The main office where a company or group does its work

31 3.7

The second of four bases a runner touches when running to score

28 2.4

The first of four points on the field that a runner must touch to score

23 3.0

A white square on the field at the third corner that a runner must touch to score

tax base
  • Specialized
20 4.2

The total value of income, goods, or sales a government can collect money from

18 2.6

A place where soldiers live, train, and work

16 3.1

A player who stands near the third corner and stops balls hit there

A place where people plan and start activities like a military camp or company office

13 3.3

A hit that lets the batter reach base safely, not because of an error or fielder's choice

knowledge base
  • Specialized
11 3.4

A collection of information about a subject that helps people or companies find answers

10 3.1

A player who stands at first base to catch throws and get runners out

first base
  • Informal
9 4.4

An early step toward reaching a goal

8 4.2

A player who stands near second base and catches or stops ground balls

8 8.0

A stage in a relationship when people touch above the waist

base pair
  • Specialized
8 3.9

Two matching chemical parts in DNA or RNA that join the two strands, for example adenine with thymine

6 3.4

A place where the navy keeps, fixes, and supplies its ships

5 3.0

A flat rubber square that the batter stands beside and runners touch to score

3 5.5

A key interest rate set by the Bank of England that other loan rates follow

3 5.9

The number of a company's products that people use now, like devices or software

base runner
  • Specialized
2 3.5

A batting team player on base or running to reach a base

base metal
  • Specialized
2 4.0

A common metal like iron or copper that is not as valuable as gold

base on balls
  • Specialized
1 5.5

An advance to first base after a batter receives four pitches outside the strike zone

1 4.8

A military place where people keep, fix, and send rockets into the sky

A type of paint that uses water instead of oil

two-base hit
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A baseball play when the batter reaches second base safely

acid-base balance
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The amount of acids and bases in the body that keeps fluids at the right pH

1 5.1

A baseball hit that lets the batter reach third base safely

prisoner's base
  • Baby Talk
1 8.4

A children's game where two teams try to tag players from the other team and bring them to their base

acid-base equilibrium
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A balance of acids and bases in the body that keeps it working

acid-base indicator
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A chemical that changes color to show if a liquid is acidic or basic

copper-base alloy
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A metal made mostly of copper mixed with other metals like tin or zinc

nickel-base alloy
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A metal made mainly of nickel that resists very high heat and chemical damage

base wallah
  • Indian
9.9

A person who manages supplies and daily tasks at a base, like transport and housing

fifth base
  • Offensive
9.9

A slang phrase for having sex as the final step in dating

rubber-base paint
  • Specialized
4.2

A water-based paint that stays flexible, lasts a long time and resists moisture

How Stable

bedrock
  • Specialized
12 4.7
foundation
  • Specialized
69 3.6
base
179 1.0
pedestal
21 4.5
stand
264 2.5

Surface Forms

base singular
bases plural

Etymology

Base comes from the Greek word basis, which meant a 'step' or 'support' under something; imagine a step that holds a statue up. So the base of an organ or object is its bottom part or its support.