: something (as a group of people) that reliably provides support (such as for a business or political candidate)—usually singular
efforts to expand their customer basethe band's fan baseBut I do believe that that's a very sore point with many Democrats and could be used to energize their base. John McCain
c
Marxism: the economic factors on which all legal, social, and political relations are formed
4
a
: the starting point or line for an action or undertaking
plans to make this city his base of operation J. A. Loftus
: a number (such as 5 in 56.44 or 57) that is raised to a power (see powerentry 1 sense 5a)
especially: the number that when raised to a power equal to the logarithm of a number yields the number itself
The logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2 since 102 = 100.
(2)
: a number equal to the number of units in a given digit's place (see placeentry 1 sense 8) that for a given system of writing numbers is required to give the numeral 1 in the next higher place
The decimal system uses a base of 10.
also: such a system of writing numbers using an indicated base
Convert from base 10 to base 2.
(3)
: a number that is multiplied by a rate or of which a percentage or fraction is calculated
To find the interest on $90 at 10 percent multiply the base 90 by .10.
5
a
: any one of the four stations at the corners of a baseball or softball infield
allowing the batter to reach base
b
in various games: the starting place or goal
c
: a point to be considered
His opening remarks touched every base.
6
chemistry
a
: any of various typically water-soluble and bitter tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7, are capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt, and are molecules or ions able to take up a proton from an acid or able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid
b
: any of the five purine or pyrimidine bases of DNA and RNA that include cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine, and uracil
7
finance: a price level at which a security (see securitysense 3) previously declining in price resists further decline
: an electrode that modulates the current flowing through a bipolar junction transistor according to the voltage applied to the electrode
This gate, which is called a grid in a tube and a base in a transistor, enables a small "controlling" voltage to turn on and off a much larger voltage between the cathode and the anode. Thom Hartmann
This situation is frequently encountered by seaplane pilots in northern Canada who must fly over lakes and tundra to a base camp located on a river. Alan Lopez
2
: of the simplest or most basic design or form : having the form of something before upgrades or customization
This GTO's 350-hp, 5.7-liter V8 is the same that's used in the base Corvette, and it produces the power and throaty exhaust sound of a classic muscle car.Consumer Reports
Phrases
cover all the bases or less commonly cover every base or have (all) one's bases covered
: to do or include everything that needs to be done or included : to fulfill all requirements or necessities
The well rounded menu covers all the bases—pork or duck breast and always a grilled chicken with complementary sauces and relishes … Caroline Bates
In other words, we need to cover every base. Too often, something is remembered at the last minute and we find ourselves waiting for the stores to open on sale day so we can purchase a much-needed item. Sue Story
In your e-mail, let the company know that, for their convenience, you're e-mailing the resume and letter, but that the original documents will arrive by postal service. This way you've got all your bases covered. Peter Post
touch all the bases or less commonly touch every base
1
: to mention every subject that needs to be considered
a speech that touches all the bases
2
: to do or include everything that needs to be done or included : to fulfill all requirements or necessities
need to touch all the bases when applying for a mortgage
The owner of the Utah Stars is in Salt Lake City, working 24 hours a day in an effort to touch every base to keep his club in Utah's capital city. Dan Pattison
base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values.
base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.
base motives
low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.
refused to listen to such low talk
vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.
a vile remark
Example Sentences
Noun their base obedience to every unprincipled action ordered by their leader the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began Verb They are going to base their new company in Seattle. The company has based itself in London. Our tour group based itself in a hotel in the heart of the city. Adjective (1) Iron is a base metal. a base and sneaky act that is a clear violation of international law See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Defense Department is moving ahead with a Donald Trump-era project, building a third courtroom at Guantanamo Bay at a cost of $4 million, even though no additional trials are expected at the naval base. Jess Bravin, WSJ, 17 Sep. 2022 Giménez hustled down the line to reach base on Gordon’s miscue and went to third on pinch-hitter Miller’s single to right. Joe Noga, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 And while Austin Hays and Jorge Mateo reached base in the eighth, Baltimore didn’t capitalize. Henderson found a way to momentarily quell the noise inside Rogers Centre with two outs in the ninth inning, hitting a solo homer of his own. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 The new Sentosa is likely to be Palau Brani, a trapezoidal land mass and former Navy base between Singapore and Sentosa. Lilit Marcus, CNN, 16 Sep. 2022 As for the white, French signature detail, her manicurist made sure to deeply follow the edge of her nail shape down to her fingertips, framing that V-shaped base. Chelsea Avila, Allure, 16 Sep. 2022 The base, officials noted, has previously housed and cared for displaced individuals, including Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Samantha J. Gross, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 Three straight Pittsburgh Pirates hitters reached base in those six pitches through two singles and a three-run homer.The Enquirer, 13 Sep. 2022 The first three batters of the game reached base against Young before Hunter Renfroe's grounder was booted by third baseman Evan Longoria, leading to two runs. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022
Verb
Jonker instructed the jury to base its decision only on facts involving Fox and Croft. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 19 Aug. 2022 Deep-lake basing is an interesting idea, partially recycled from a Cold War plot to base missiles in the Great Lakes. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 15 July 2022 Muzikir’s public defender encouraged the judge to base his ruling on Muzikir’s nearly spotless prison record. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 19 June 2022 There’s a reason that Varsho didn’t have anyone to base his transition off. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2022 Pairing with training partners who know how to base well, or raise her up, is also paramount. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 5 May 2022 To help narrow down the options, here are seven tips to base your selection of a competent vendor for software consulting services. Thanh Pham, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 In addition to base Xbox One hardware exceeding WoW's minimum specs, Microsoft has had full keyboard-and-mouse support enabled for Xbox consoles for years, making the ecosystem a not-so-terrible fit for the popular MMO. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 19 Jan. 2022 Weeks after our arrival the previous year, Soviet attempts to base nuclear-capable missiles in Cuba had brought the world too close to nuclear war. Peter Bridges, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2022
Adjective
Flores leads the Giants in games, runs, doubles, RBIs, hits and extra-base hits and is second in homers. John Shea John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Sep. 2022 Friedl, known for his speed and defense, is 13-for-30 with six extra-base hits since rejoining the Reds a couple of weeks ago.The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2022 José Ramírez led Cleveland’s offense Saturday by collecting his 16th game with multiple extra-base hits. Joe Noga, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2022 The starting price is a very reasonable $41,769, but only fleet customers can spec the larger battery pack on the base trim level, so the you-and-me price for a big-battery truck leaps to $74,269. Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 1 July 2022 Officials, residents, scientists, and companies all contributed to the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, which aims to cut emissions by 30% by 2030 and 44% by 2040, from a base level of 23.42 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2019. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2022 Fraud charges such as Ms. Holmes’s begin with a base offense level of seven. Christopher Weaver, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2022 All tequilas offer a base level of roasty vegetal notes, but blancos give a bright, sparkly sheen to cocktails, whereas reposados and anjeos add a layer of warmth and spice. John Debary, Bon Appétit, 4 June 2021 PMIs are diffusion indexes measuring month over month activity with a base level of 50. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin basis, from Greek, step, base, from bainein to go — more at come