base

BAYS/beɪs/

Verbbases, basing, based

Noun pluralbases

52 meanings of base

Practice

1
build onverbtransitive
To use something as the main idea or starting point for something else.
Like building a house: you start from the ground and build up.
She based her story on real events.
They base their decisions on careful research.
UsageSay a film based on a book.
Similarground
2
headquartersverbtransitive
To keep people or things at a place that they work from.
Like choosing one spot as the home for a team or group of things.
The company bases its trucks at a depot outside town.
They base the rescue team near the harbor.
UsageSay the company is based in Denver.
Similarstation, locate, position, post
3
foot (objects)nouncountable or uncountable
The bottom part of something, which it stands on or grows from.
Like the bottom of a cup that keeps it from tipping over.
The lamp wobbled because its base was cracked.
Glue the model to a wooden base so it stands up.
UsageSay at the base of the tree.
Similarfoundation, bottom, foot, pedestal, stand
Oppositetop, apex
4
military sitenouncountable or uncountable
A place with buildings where soldiers live and work.
Like a home for soldiers, with places to sleep, eat, and train.
The soldiers returned to base after the long mission.
Her father works at an army base near the coast.
UsageSoldiers live on a base and return to base.
Similarcamp, garrison, post, station, installation
5
nouncountable or uncountable
An idea or fact that something else is built on or starts from.
Like the bottom of a statue that keeps it standing.
Saving money early gives you a base for the years ahead.
Good reading skills are a strong base for everything else you learn.
UsageSay a strong base for your future.
Similarfoundation, basis, grounding, footing
Note
6
loyal buyersnouncountable
The group of people who often buy from, use or support a business, product or performer.
The little bakery has a loyal base of neighbors who come in every morning.
The singer's fan base grew fast after her song went viral.
UsageSay a fan base or a customer base.
Similarfollowing
Note
7
safe spotnouncountable or uncountable
One of the four spots in baseball where a runner is safe from being tagged out.
Like the safe spots in a game of tag where no one can catch you.
He slid into second base just before the throw arrived.
The runner reached the base safely and waited for the next hit.
UsageSay he got on base or stole a base.
Similarbag
Note
8
standard amountadjective
Being the normal or starting amount or level of something, before anything extra is added.
The base model of the car doesn't have heated seats.
Her base pay is low, but she earns a lot in tips.
UsageSay base pay for pay before tips or extras.
Similarbasic, standard
9
nouncountable or uncountable
The main part of a mixture that other things are added to.
Like the bottom layer of a cake that holds everything else together.
Tomatoes form the base of this sauce.
The soup uses a chicken broth as its base.
UsageSay a base of onions.
Note
10
headquartersnouncountable or uncountable
The main place where the leaders of a group make their decisions.
Like the main office where the bosses decide what everyone does.
The company moved its base to a bigger city.
Reporters waited outside the team's base for news about the new coach.
Similarheadquarters, hub, office, center

Less common meanings

11
loyal votersnouncountable or uncountable
The group of voters who almost always support one political party.
Like the regular fans who cheer for a team no matter what.
The senator spoke to her loyal base before the election.
A strong base helps a party win again and again.
UsageSay the candidate rallied her base.
Similarconstituency, following
Note
12
safe spotnouncountable or uncountable
A safe spot in games like tag where you cannot be caught.
Like a home corner where no one is allowed to grab you.
She ran to base before he could tag her.
Once you reach base, the other players cannot get you.
UsageSay run to base.
Similarhome, den
13
opposite of acidnouncountable or uncountable
A substance that reacts with an acid and cancels it out. In water, many turn red litmus paper blue.
Like the opposite of an acid: it can cancel acid out.
A base feels slippery and can neutralize an acid.
Soap is a mild base that you use every day.
UsageScientists say a strong base or a weak base.
Similaralkali
Oppositeacid
Note
14
shamefuladjective
Very bad or dishonest in a way that shows no honor.
Like a mean trick that makes everyone lose respect for you.
It was a base act to betray his closest friend.
They accused him of base lies and cowardly tricks.
UsageA formal word. Often in base motives or base instincts.
Similardespicable, contemptible, vile, low, ignoble
Oppositenoble, honorable, virtuous
Note
15
nouncountable or uncountable
The side of a flat shape, or the face of a solid shape, that you measure its height from.
Like the flat bottom of a box that lets it sit steady on a table.
We measured the base of the triangle before working out its area.
The cone is ten centimeters tall, and its base is a circle six centimeters across.
Note
16
makeup creamnouncountable or uncountable
A cream you put on your face first to make your skin look even.
Like a first coat of paint that makes a wall smooth before the color goes on.
She smoothed a light base over her cheeks before the party.
Her base was a shade too dark, so her face didn't match her neck.
UsageSay foundation or base.
Similarfoundation
Note
17
common metaladjective
Of metal, cheap and not precious, like copper or lead rather than gold or silver.
Like everyday metal cans compared to a gold ring.
Iron and lead are base metals, unlike gold and silver.
The coin was made of a cheap, base metal.
UsageSay base metals like iron and lead.
Oppositeprecious, noble
Note
18
number to powernouncountable or uncountable
The number that gets multiplied by itself a certain number of times.
Like the number you keep multiplying, again and again.
In two to the third power, the base is two.
When the base is two, each step up in the power doubles the answer.
UsageSay the log to base 2.
Note
19
DNA unitnouncountable or uncountable
One of the chemical units in DNA or RNA that carry genetic information.
Like letters in a long word: their order spells out the instructions.
In DNA, each base on one strand pairs with a base on the other strand.
Scientists read the order of every base to map the whole genome.
Note
20
word rootnouncountable or uncountable
The main part of a word that other parts attach to.
Like the trunk of a tree that branches grow out from.
We add the ending '-ness' to the base to make a new word.
In the word 'replay,' the base is 'play.'
Similarroot, stem
Note
21
counting systemnouncountable or uncountable
The number that a counting system is built on, like ten in everyday math.
Like deciding to count in groups of ten before starting the next group.
Computers often work in a base of two instead of ten.
In base ten, each place is worth ten times the place to its right.
UsageSay in base ten.
Similarradix
Note
22
bottom person (stunts)nouncountable or uncountable
The person who stays on the ground and holds up another performer.
Like the bottom person in a tall stack of people.
The base lifted her partner high above the crowd.
A strong base keeps the flyer steady in the air.
Note
23
verbintransitive
To support another performer by holding them up from the ground.
Like being the bottom person who holds everyone else up.
I base for our team while my sister flies.
Two athletes base while a third is tossed into the air.
UsageSay I base while she flies.
Note
24
cocainenounslanguncountable
A smokable form of the drug cocaine.
The dealer was caught selling base on the corner.
He smoked base for years before finally getting clean.
UsageSay he smoked base.
Note
25
landing pathnouncountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short form of base leg. It's the part of a landing path just before the final turn toward the runway.
The pilot turned onto base before lining up with the runway.
Air traffic control told her to stay on downwind until cleared to turn base.
UsageUsed without "a" or "the": pilots are on base or turning base.
Note
26
transistor partnouncountable or uncountable
The connection on a transistor that controls how much current flows through the other two.
Like a tap that controls how much water flows through a pipe.
A small signal sent to the base turns the transistor on.
Engineers wire the base to a resistor to limit the current.
Note
27
adjectivearchaic
Low in place or near the bottom in position.
I see thy glory like a shooting star / Fall to the base earth from the firmament.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard IIHere, base means low, the earth lying far below the sky.
28
noun
A chemical that helps dye stay in cloth.
29
noun
The bottom part of a shield in a coat of arms.
30
noun
In math, a collection of open sets that combine to form every open set of a space.
31
noun
In math, the lower space that a bundle or covering lies over.
32
noun
In math, a list of points that only the group's do-nothing element leaves all in place.
33
noundated
An old spelling of bass, the deepest voice or part in music.
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
1709, J[ohn] Dryden, J[ohn] Oldham
34
noun
A very small, light cannon used in the past.
35
nounarchaic
A decorated cloth draped over a horse's back.
36
noun
A long skirt of fine cloth worn in the 1500s.
37
noun
A metal skirt in a suit of armor, copying a cloth one.
38
nounobsolete
The bottom part of a long dress.
39
nounobsolete
A cloth you tie on to keep your clothes clean.
bakers in their linen bases
1613, John Marston, The Insatiate Countess
40
noun
In surveying, a carefully measured line used to find where other points are.
41
noun
In Marxist ideas, the economy and how goods are made, which shapes the rest of society.
42
verbslang
To smoke a strong form of cocaine.
43
adjectiveobsolete
Short, not tall.
The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot.
1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece
44
adjectiveobsolete
Having little value, or being at a low level.
If thou livest in paine and sorrow, thy base courage is the cause of it, To die there wanteth but will.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes
45
adjectivearchaic
From a low class in society.
a peasant and base swain
1623, Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum
46
adjectivearchaic
Cheap and not very good.
'Like this horrible film.' 'Horrible?' Lenina was genuinely astonished. 'But I thought it was lovely.' 'It was base,' he said indignantly, 'it was ignoble.'
1932, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
47
adjectiveobsolete
Born to parents who were not married.
Why bastard? Wherefore base?
c. 1605, William Shakespeare, King Lear
48
adjective
Not the proper or classic form of a language.
49
adjectiveobsolete
An old spelling of bass, meaning deep in sound.
50
adjective
Of land held in return for lowly work that nobles would not do.
51
nounUS
An old chasing game where caught players become prisoners.
to run the country base
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”
52
noun
Another way to write BASE, as in jumping with a parachute from tall places.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of base apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–7, 9–13, 15–16, 18–26

From Latin basis, which came from Greek básis.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Base derives from Latin basis. en.wiktionary.org
Latin basis was borrowed from Ancient Greek básis. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 8, 14, 17

From Late Latin bassus, meaning "low."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Base derives ultimately from Late Latin bassus. en.wiktionary.org
Late Latin bassus means “low.” en.wiktionary.org