1 base
/ˈbeɪs/
noun
plural
bases
1 base
/ˈbeɪs/
noun
plural
bases
Britannica Dictionary definition of BASE
1
[count]
:
the bottom or lowest part of something
:
the part on which something rests or is supported
— usually singular
-
The lamp has a heavy base.
-
He planted flowers around the stone's base.
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Make sure the base of the stove rests evenly on the floor.
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The climbers established a camp at the base of the mountain. = The climbers established a base camp.
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— often used figuratively
-
Although I disagreed with the book's theoretical base [=basis, foundation], I couldn't really find fault with its logic.
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The tour was informative, thanks to the guide's broad base of knowledge.
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2
[count]
:
something (such as a group of people or things) that provides support for a place, business, etc.
— usually singular
-
At one time paper mills were the industrial base for the region.
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The economic base of the village is tourism. [=tourism is the most important part of the village's economy]
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The company has a solid customer base. [=set of customers it can depend on]
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The sport's fan base [=group of fans] is growing.
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— see also power base, tax base
3
[count]
:
a main ingredient to which other things are added to make something
— usually singular
-
The paint has a water base, not an oil base.
-
She uses chicken broth as the base of the soup.
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4
a
[count]
:
the main place in which a person works or lives or a business operates
-
He uses his home as the base for his accounting business.
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The company's base is in London. = The company's base of operations is (in) London. [=the company's main offices are in London]
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The band recently returned to its home base of Chicago after three months on tour.
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b
:
a place where a military force keeps supplies and where people in the military live and work
[count]
-
naval/military bases
-
the commander of the base = the base commander
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[noncount]
-
The troops were ordered back to base.
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— see also air base
5
baseball
:
any one of the four places a runner must touch in order to score
[count]
-
He threw the ball to the wrong base.
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[noncount]
-
There's a runner on base. [=there's a runner on first, second, or third base]
-
The batter reached base on an error by the shortstop.
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— compare home plate; see also first base, second base, third base
6
[count]
chemistry
:
a chemical that reacts with an acid to form a salt
◊ A base has a pH higher than 7.
— compare 1acid 1, ph
7
[count]
mathematics
:
a number on which a system for counting and calculating is established
— usually singular
-
Computers use a binary, or base 2, system, rather than the decimal, or base 10, system we usually use.
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cover all the bases
also
cover every base
:
to do or include everything that needs to be done or included
-
The book is sometimes confusing because the writer tries too hard to cover all the bases.
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They reviewed the contract to make sure that it covered all the bases.
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off base
US, informal
1
:
not correct
:
wrong or mistaken
-
Her study proves that the theory is off base.
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It turns out that the estimates were way off base. [=very wrong]
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2
:
in an unprepared state
-
He was caught off base [=off guard] by the accusations. [=he was not prepared for the accusations]
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touch all the bases
chiefly US
or
touch every base
:
to cover all the bases
especially
:
to mention every subject or point that needs to be considered
-
She made sure that she touched all the bases in her report.
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His opening remarks at the meeting touched all the bases.
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touch base
informal
:
to meet and talk as a way of learning about recent news
-
Let's get together for lunch next week to touch base.
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— usually + with
-
He attended the conference for a chance to touch base with other people in the computer industry.
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2 base
/ˈbeɪs/
verb
bases;
based;
basing
2 base
/ˈbeɪs/
verb
bases;
based;
basing
Britannica Dictionary definition of BASE
[+ object]
:
to have a particular place as the main place where a person works or lives or where a business operates
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They are going to base their new company in Seattle.
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The company has based itself in London.
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Our tour group based itself in a hotel in the heart of the city.
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— often used as (be) based
-
The company is based in London. [=the company's main offices are in London]
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The band was based in Chicago until recently.
-
a London-based company
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base on/upon
[phrasal verb]
base (something) on/upon (something)
:
to form, make, or develop (something, such as an opinion, decision, or calculation) by using (something, such as information) as a basis, starting point, etc.
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You've based your opinion on faulty information. = Your opinion is based on faulty information. [=the information that you used to form your opinion is wrong]
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The interest rate is based on credit history. [=credit history is used to determine the interest rate]
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The story is based on real-life events. [=the story was developed from real-life events]
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The island's economy is based on tourism.
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3 base
/ˈbeɪs/
adjective
3 base
/ˈbeɪs/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BASE
1
[also more base; most base]
formal + literary
baser;
basest
:
not honest or good
-
base motives
-
a base criminal
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2
technical, of a metal
:
having low quality and value
-
Iron is a base metal.
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— basely
adverb
-
He acted basely.
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— baseness
noun
[noncount]
-
the baseness of his actions
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