The Meaning of base

• (a.) Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.
• (a.) Low in place or position.
• (a.) Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean.
• (a.) Illegitimate by birth; bastard.
• (a.) Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.
• (a.) Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.
• (a.) Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations.
• (a.) Not classical or correct.
• (a.) Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin.
• (a.) Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant.
• (n.) The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue.
• (n.) Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.
• (n.) The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.
• (n.) The lower part of a complete architectural design, as of a monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate piece of furniture or decoration.
• (n.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.
• (n.) The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a salt; -- applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their property of forming salts with acids.
• (n.) The chief ingredient in a compound.
• (n.) A substance used as a mordant.
• (n.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.
• (n.) The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.
• (n.) The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
• (n.) A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
• (n.) A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.
• (n.) The smallest kind of cannon.
• (n.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.
• (n.) The basal plane of a crystal.
• (n.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.
• (n.) The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
• (n.) The housing of a horse.
• (n.) A kind of skirt ( often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
• (n.) The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
• (n.) An apron.
• (n.) The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games.
• (n.) A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.
• (n.) A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars.
• (n.) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.
• (n.) To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon.
• (a.) To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower.
• (a.) To reduce the value of; to debase.

Synonyms

foundation , foot , bag , radix , stand , al-Qaeda , al-Qa'ida , substructure , theme , radical , alkali , basis , home , groundwork , base of operations , understructure , root , infrastructure , al-Qaida , pedestal , floor , fundament , cornerstone , stem , root word , nucleotide , metrical unit , bottom , foundation garment , founding , tail , pes , instauration , butt , posterior , rear end , infantry , introduction , can , ft , nates , innovation , invertebrate foot , buttocks , prat , animal foot , stern , metrical foot , seat , backside , bum , tooshie , grounding , buns , arse , institution , hindquarters , tail end , behind , origination , hind end , derriere , rump , ass , keister , rear , fanny , human foot , tush , initiation , creation , bagful , traveling bag , grip , suitcase , travelling bag , cup of tea , old bag , udder , purse , pocketbook , handbag , dish , flooring , trading floor , storey , story , level , ground , footing , standstill , sales booth , rack , point of view , standpoint , viewpoint , footstall , stall , outdoor stage , bandstand , tie-up , plinth , domicile , place , house , plate , home base , household , habitation , family , nursing home , abode , home plate , rest home , menage , dwelling house , dwelling , idea , ascendent , composition , paper , motif , prow , ascendant , group , shank , stalk , report , etymon , subject , bow , fore , topic , free radical , melodic theme , source , ancestor , antecedent , musical theme , origin , rootage , tooth root , stem turn , solution , beginning , chemical group , baseborn , meanspirited , basal , immoral , lowly , mean , humble , primary , junior-grade , subaltern , modest , menial , low , lower-ranking , secondary , small , petty(a) , hateful , tight , mingy , ungenerous , mean(a) , average , bastardly , beggarly , miserly , demonstrate , set up , install , strand , found , institute , instal , launch , build , prove , free-base , give , run aground , plant , shew , undercoat , lay down , establish , prime , anchor , make , show , constitute , brutish , animal , brutal , ignorant , sensual , swinish , brute , imbruted , sottish , unintellectual , beastly , carnal , insensible , stolid , unspiritual , bestial , coarse , lascivious , stupid , vile

Antonyms

incidental , noble , echt , legitimate , right , intellectual , enlightened , grand , humane , intelligent , refined , genuine , superior , incident , elevated , exalted , great

Rhymes

ace , aerospace , airspace , anyplace , apace , arianespace , bass , birthplace , boldface , bookcase , brace , briefcase , caisse , case , cayce , chace , chase , commonplace , crace , cyberspace , dace , database , debase , deface , degrace , diabase , diastase , disgrace , displace , efface , embrace , encase , erase , everyplace , face , fireplace , footrace , frace , glace , grace , heyse , incase , interface , interlace , lace , lactase , lambastes , left-brace , lovelace , mace , mais , marketplace , misplace , nace , orthoclase , outpace , pace , place , plagioclase , polymerase , race , replace , retrace , right-brace , scarface , shoelace , showcase , showplace , someplace , space , staircase , steeplechase , streptokinase , suitcase , thrace , trace , typeface , vase , wace , wheelbase , workplace