Base

Base
Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba`sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai`nein 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. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound. [1913 Webster]

7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. --Ure. [1913 Webster]

8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions. [1913 Webster]

9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand. [1913 Webster]

10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms. [1913 Webster]

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}.] [1913 Webster]

The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

14. (Zo["o]l.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ. [1913 Webster]

15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal. [1913 Webster]

16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline. [1913 Webster]

17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See {Escutcheon}. [1913 Webster]

18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

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.] [1913 Webster]

20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

21. An apron. [Obs.] ``Bakers in their linen bases.'' --Marston. [1913 Webster]

22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games. [1913 Webster]

To their appointed base they went. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

24. A rustic play; -- called also {prisoner's base}, {prison base}, or {bars}. ``To run the country base.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield. [1913 Webster]

{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 or 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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • base — base …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • basé — basé …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • base — [ baz ] n. f. • XIIe; lat. basis, mot gr. « marche, point d appui » I ♦ A ♦ 1 ♦ Partie inférieure d un corps sur laquelle il porte, il repose. ⇒ appui (point d appui), assiette, assise, 1. dessous, fond, fondement, pied. La base de l édifice… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Base D'or — En mathématiques, le nombre d or, à savoir peut être utilisé comme une base de numération. Ce système est connu sous le nom base d or, ou accessoirement, phinaire (car le symbole pour le nombre d or est la lettre grecque « phi »). Tout… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • base — n Base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork are comparable when meaning something on which another thing is reared or built or by which it is supported or fixed in place. Base may be applied to the lowest part or bottom of something without… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • base — base·ball; base; base·less; base·lin·er; base·ly; base·man; base·ment; base·ness; de·base; de·base·ment; di·a·base; em·base; gnatho·base; gyno·base; im·base; iso·base; phal·lo·base; rheo·base; rim·base; scle·ro·base; sub·base; sur·base;… …   English syllables

  • base — base1 [bās] n. [ME < OFr bas < L basis,BASIS] 1. the thing or part on which something rests; lowest part or bottom; foundation 2. the fundamental or main part, as of a plan, organization, system, theory, etc. 3. the principal or essential… …   English World dictionary

  • 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]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Base — or BASE may refer to:A base is a mixture of urine n waste so do not eat it* Base meaning bottom, the lowest part of an object* can mean negative, unfavorable or undesirable in nature. Bad; vile; malicious; evil.In mathematics: *Base (mathematics) …   Wikipedia

  • base — 1. a base de. Locución preposicional que, seguida de un sustantivo, expresa que lo denotado por este es el fundamento o componente principal: «Los [tallarines] verdes [...] están hechos a base de albahaca» (Cisneros Mestizaje [Perú 1995]).… …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

  • base — (Del lat. basis, y este del gr. βάσις). 1. f. Fundamento o apoyo principal de algo. 2. Conjunto de personas representadas por un mandatario, delegado o portavoz suyo. U. m. en pl.) 3. Lugar donde se concentra personal y equipo, para, partiendo de …   Diccionario de la lengua española

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