base base /ˈbeɪs/

adjective

1. () Serving as or forming a base  ( basal , base )
   serving as or forming a base
    The painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
   the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
   
2. () Of low birth or station (base' is archaic in this sense)  ( baseborn , humble , lowly , base )
   of low birth or station (base' is archaic in this sense)
    Baseborn wretches with dirty faces
   baseborn wretches with dirty faces
    Of humble (or lowly) birth
   of humble (or lowly) birth
   
3. Debased; not genuine  ( base )
   debased; not genuine
    An attempt to eliminate the base coinage
   an attempt to eliminate the base coinage
   
4. [Archaic] Illegitimate  ( base [Archaic] , baseborn [Archaic] )
   illegitimate
   
5. Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality  ( base , meanspirited , mean )
   having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
    That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
   that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
    Taking a mean advantage
   taking a mean advantage
    Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
   chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
    Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
   something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
   
6. Not adhering to ethical or moral principles  ( base , immoral )
   not adhering to ethical or moral principles
    Base and unpatriotic motives
   base and unpatriotic motives
    A base, degrading way of life
   a base, degrading way of life
    Cheating is dishonorable
   cheating is dishonorable
    They considered colonialism immoral
   they considered colonialism immoral
    Unethical practices in handling public funds
   unethical practices in handling public funds
   
7. (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal  ( base )
   (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal
    Base coins of aluminum
   base coins of aluminum
    A base metal
   a base metal
   

noun

1. () (military) installation from which a military force initiates operations  ( base of operations , base )
   (military) installation from which a military force initiates operations
    The attack wiped out our forward bases
   the attack wiped out our forward bases
   
   
2. () A place that the runner must touch before scoring  ( bag , base )
   a place that the runner must touch before scoring
    He scrambled to get back to the bag
   he scrambled to get back to the bag
   
3. () Lowest support of a structure  ( fundament , groundwork , substructure , base , foot , foundation , understructure )
   lowest support of a structure
    It was built on a base of solid rock
   it was built on a base of solid rock
    He stood at the foot of the tower
   he stood at the foot of the tower
   
4. () A support or foundation  ( pedestal , base , stand )
   a support or foundation
    The base of the lamp
   the base of the lamp
   
   
5. () The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun, developed, calculated or explained  ( cornerstone , foundation , fundament , base , basis , groundwork )
   the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun, developed, calculated or explained
    The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
   the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
   
6. () A lower limit  ( base , floor )
   a lower limit
    The government established a wage floor
   the government established a wage floor
   
7. () (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment  ( base )
   (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment
    The base of the skull
   the base of the skull
   
8. () The bottom or lowest part  ( base )
   the bottom or lowest part
    The base of the mountain
   the base of the mountain
   
9. (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector  ( base )
   (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
   
10. A flat bottom on which something is intended to sit  ( base )
    a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit
     A tub should sit on its own base
    a tub should sit on its own base
    
11. The principal ingredient of a mixture  ( base )
    the principal ingredient of a mixture
     Glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
    glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
     He told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
    he told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
     Everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
    everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
    
12. The stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area  ( base , infrastructure )
    the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area
     The industrial base of Japan
    the industrial base of Japan
    
    
13. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed  ( base , radical , root word , root , stem , theme )
    (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
     Thematic vowels are part of the stem
    thematic vowels are part of the stem
    
14. The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end  ( base , home )
    the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
    
15. (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place  ( base , radix )
    (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place
     10 is the radix of the decimal system
    10 is the radix of the decimal system
    
16. The most important or necessary part of something  ( base , basis )
    the most important or necessary part of something
     The basis of this drink is orange juice
    the basis of this drink is orange juice
    
17. The bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed  ( base )
    the bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed
     The base of the triangle
    the base of the triangle
    
18. Any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water  ( base , alkali )
    any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
     Bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
    bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
    
19. A phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)  ( base , nucleotide )
    a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)
    
    

verb

1. () Use as a basis for; found on  ( found , ground , establish , base )
   use as a basis for; found on
    Base a claim on some observation
   base a claim on some observation
   
2. Use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes  ( base , free-base )
   use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
   
3. Situate as a center of operations  ( base )
   situate as a center of operations
    We will base this project in the new lab
   we will base this project in the new lab
   

 Base

noun

1. A terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups; has cells in more than 50 countries  ( al Qaeda , al Qaida , al-Qa'ida , al-Qaeda , al-Qaida , Base , Qaeda )
   a terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups; has cells in more than 50 countries