Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
surbase

surbase

9.9
A decorative strip above the base of a wall or column
  • noun
  • /ˈsɜrˌbeɪs/
  • Specialized
: surbase
  • Restorers carefully cleaned the old paint from the surbase to reveal its original design.

Examples

  • The surbase was decorated with intricate carvings that complemented the column's base.

  • A marble surbase separates the wall from the ornate frieze above.

  • The elegant surbase added a touch of sophistication to the podium.

  • Can you see the surbases along the walls?

  • A marble surbase separates the wall from the ornate frieze above.

  • The surbase was decorated with intricate carvings that complemented the column's base.

  • The elegant surbase added a touch of sophistication to the podium.

How Decorative

frieze
  • Specialized
4 9.2
cornice
  • Specialized
4 8.1
surbase
  • Specialized
9.9
baseboard
  • US
9 3.4

Surface Forms

surbase singular
surbases plural

Morphology

surbase = base (semi-transparent) = sur + base + sur

The form 'sur' + 'base' transparently suggests 'above the base', but 'sur-' is a non-productive French-derived prefix in English and the term is specialized architectural vocabulary, so learners may not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word surbase comes from the parts sur- and base, where sur- means 'on' and base means 'base', so a surbase is the strip or molding that sits 'on' the base of a wall, pedestal, or column.