I. base 1 S1 W1 /beɪs/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ base , the basics, ↑ basis ; adjective : ↑ baseless , ↑ basic , ↑ based ; verb : ↑ base ; adverb : ↑ basically ]
[transitive usually passive] to have your main place of work, business etc in a particular place:
The paper had intended to base itself in London.
be based in something
The new organization will be based in Dallas.
⇨ ↑ based
base something on/upon something phrasal verb
to use something as the thing from which something else is developed ⇨ basis :
Their relationship was based upon mutual respect.
an economy based on farming
II. base 2 S2 W2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ base , the basics, ↑ basis ; adjective : ↑ baseless , ↑ basic , ↑ based ; verb : ↑ base ; adverb : ↑ basically ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin basis ; ⇨ ↑ basis ]
1 . LOWEST PART [countable usually singular]
a) the lowest part or surface of something SYN bottom
base of
There is a door at the base of the tower.
the base of a triangle
a frozen dessert with a biscuit base
a wine glass with a heavy base
The leather of his left trainer was coming away from its rubber base.
b) the lowest point on a plant or part of your body, where it joins another part SYN bottom
base of
a hole in the base of the tree
He was killed by an axe blow to the base of his skull.
2 . KNOWLEDGE/IDEAS [countable] the most important part of something, from which new ideas develop SYN foundation :
India has a good scientific research base.
base for
They were laying the base for a new economic recovery.
3 . MILITARY [countable] a place where people in a military organization live and work
military/naval/air base
4 . COMPANY/ORGANIZATION [uncountable and countable] the main place from which a person, company, or organization controls their activities
base for
He used the house as a base for his printing business.
5 . PEOPLE/GROUPS [countable usually singular] the people, money, groups etc that form the main part of something:
The company has built up a loyal customer base.
By broadening the tax base (=all the people who pay taxes) , he could raise more revenues.
an attempt to strengthen the city’s economic base (=things that produce jobs and money)
The country’s manufacturing base (=all the factories, companies etc that produce goods in a country) has shrunk by 20%.
⇨ ↑ power base
6 . SUBSTANCE/MIXTURE [singular, uncountable] the main part of a substance, meal etc to which other things are added:
paint with an oil base
base for
Vodka is the base for many cocktails.
7 . SPORT [countable] one of the four places that a player must touch in order to get a point in games such as ↑ baseball
8 . be off base American English informal to be completely wrong:
His estimate for painting the kitchen seems way off base.
9 . CHEMICAL [countable] technical a chemical substance that combines with an acid to form a ↑ salt
10 . NUMBERS [countable usually singular] technical the number in relation to which a number system or mathematical table is built up, for example 10 in the ↑ decimal system
11 . touch base (with somebody) to talk to someone to find out what is happening about something
—basal adjective
⇨ cover (all) the bases at ↑ cover 1 (12)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ a good base
This data provided a good base for further research.
▪ a solid/firm/strong base
A good education should give you a solid base for life.
▪ a sound/secure base
A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
▪ a broad base
The first year of the course aims to provide students with a broad base of knowledge.
▪ a knowledge base
You’re building up a knowledge base that you’ll be able to use later.
■ verbs
▪ have a base
Permanent staff have a better base from which to plan their career development.
▪ provide a base
It is essential to provide a sound base from which economic progress can be made.
▪ build a base
By concentrating on our core businesses we will build a strong base from which to exploit future opportunities.
▪ give somebody a base
The training gives you a broad base in actually running an organization.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ the bottom the lowest part of something:
The house is at the bottom of that hill.
|
She scrolled down to the bottom of the screen.
▪ the underneath/the underside the bottom surface on the outside of something:
You will find the serial number on the underneath of the vacuum cleaner.
▪ base the lowest part or the wide bottom part on which something stands:
The lamp has a square base.
|
He had broken a bone at the base of his spine.
▪ the foot literary the bottom of a tree, a hill, or some stairs:
There was a small village at the foot of the mountain.
▪ bed the ground at the bottom of a river, a lake, or the sea:
the sea bed
|
They found some interesting stones on the river bed.
▪ the foundations the layer of cement and stones that forms the bottom of a building:
The builders have begun laying the foundations for the house.
III. base 3 BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: bas , from Medieval Latin bassus 'short, low' ]
not having good moral principles:
base attitudes and desires
⇨ ↑ base metal