base
/beɪs/ · base
noun
- Something from which other things extend; a foundation. The statue stood on a marble base.
- The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis. The hypothesis served as the base for the experiment.
- A permanent structure for housing military personnel and material. The troops returned to the base after the patrol.
- A low spectrum of sound tones. He turned up the bass on the speakers.
- A section of a musical group that produces low‑pitched sound, lower than the baritone and tenor. The bass section anchored the orchestra's harmony.
- One who sings in the bass range. She admired the deep timbre of the bass in the choir.
- A root. The word “biology” has the Greek base “bio‑”.
- A primitive word from which other words may be derived. In linguistics, “run” is a base for many related forms.
- The number of distinct symbols used to represent numbers in a particular numeral system, as ten for decimal. Binary is a base‑2 numeral system.
verb
- To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of. The architect based the design on sustainable principles.
- To be located (at a particular place). The camp is based in the mountains.
- (acrobatics, cheerleading) To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer. She based her partner during the stunt.
Did you know? The musical term “bass” (low‑pitched sound) comes from the Italian “basso”, itself derived from Latin “bassus” meaning ‘deep’, a meaning unrelated to the structural sense of “base”.