I. noun
1.
something on which another thing is reared or built or by which it is supported or fixed in place
the base of a lamp
Synonyms: basement, basis, bed, bedrock, bottom, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, hardpan, infrastructure, rest, seat, seating, substratum, substruction, substructure, underpinning, understructure; compare basis 1
Related Word: bolster, buttress, framework, prop, stand, stay, support; foot
2.
Synonyms: basis 1, bedrock, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, infrastructure, root, substratum, underpinning, warrant
3.
Synonyms: bottom 3, foot, nadir
II. verb
to supply or to serve as a basis
based his accusation on sound evidence
Synonyms: bottom, establish, found, ground, predicate, rest, stay
Related Word: build, construct, fix, plant, seat, set up
III. adjective
1.
Synonyms: ignoble 1, baseborn, humble, low, lowborn, lowly, mean, plebeian, unennobled, unwashed
2.
Synonyms: cheap 2, common, mean, paltry, poor, rubbishy, shoddy, sleazy, tatty, trashy
3.
contemptible because beneath minimal standards of human decency
a base lying cheat
Synonyms: despicable, ignoble, low, low-down, servile, sordid, squalid, ugly, vile, wretched; compare contemptible
Related Word: beggarly, lousy, sorry; abominable, disgraceful, loathsome; bad, evil, wicked; base-minded, low-minded, meanspirited; caitiff, cowardly, dastardly, recreant; unworthy; dirty, filthy; degrading, humiliating, ignominious
Contrasted words: honest, honorable, upright; virtuous; ethical, moral, righteous; fair, forbearing, open-minded, patient, reasonable, tolerant, understanding
Antonyms: noble