I. ˈbä-təm noun
Etymology: Middle English botme, from Old English botm; akin to Old High German bodam bottom, Latin fundus, Greek pythmēn
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : the underside of something
b. : a surface (as the seat of a chair) designed to support something resting on it — used figuratively in phrases like the bottom dropped out to describe a sudden collapse or downturn
lost millions when the bottom dropped out of the stock market
c. : the posterior end of the trunk : buttocks, rump
2. : the surface on which a body of water lies
3.
a. : the part of a ship's hull lying below the water
b. : boat , ship
4.
a. : the lowest part or place
the bottom of the page
b. : the remotest or inmost point
c. : the lowest or last place in point of precedence
started work at the bottom
d. : the part of a garment worn on the lower part of the body ; especially : the pants of pajamas — usually used in plural
e. : the last half of an inning of baseball
f. : the bass or baritone instruments of a band
5. : bottomland — usually used in plural
6. : basis , source
trying to get to the bottom of these rumors
7. : capacity (as of a horse) to endure strain
8. : a foundation color applied to textile fibers before dyeing
9. : a fundamental quark that accounts for the existence and lifetime of upsilon particles and has an electric charge of - 1/3 and a measured energy of approximately 5 GeV ; also : the flavor characterizing this particle
• bot·tomed -təmd adjective
•
- at bottom
II. verb
Date: 1520
transitive verb
1. : to furnish with a bottom
2. : to provide a foundation for
3. : to bring to the bottom
4. : to get to the bottom of
intransitive verb
1. : to become based
2. : to reach the bottom
3. : to reach a point where a decline is halted or reversed — usually used with out
the team bottomed out in last place
• bot·tom·er noun
III. adjective
Date: 1561
1. : of, relating to, or situated at the bottom
bottom rock
2. : frequenting the bottom
bottom fish