/bot"euhm/ , n.
1. the lowest or deepest part of anything, as distinguished from the top: the bottom of a hill; the bottom of a page.
2. the under or lower side; underside: the bottom of a typewriter.
3. the ground under any body of water: the bottom of the sea.
4. Usually, bottoms . Also called bottom land . Phys. Geog. low alluvial land next to a river.
5. Naut.
a. the part of a hull between the bilges, including the keel.
b. the part of a hull that is immersed at all times.
c. the cargo space in a vessel.
d. a cargo vessel.
6. the seat of a chair.
7. Informal. the buttocks; rump.
8. the fundamental part; basic aspect.
9. bottoms , ( used with a pl. v. ) the trousers of a pair of pajamas.
10. the working part of a plow, comprising the plowshare, landside, and moldboard.
11. the cause; origin; basis: Try getting to the bottom of the problem.
12. Baseball.
a. the second half of an inning.
b. the last three players in the batting order.
13. lowest limit, esp. of dignity, status, or rank: When people sink that low, they're bound to reach the bottom soon.
14. Usually, bottoms . Chem. the heaviest, least volatile fraction of petroleum, left behind in distillation after more volatile fractions are driven off.
15. at bottom , in reality; fundamentally: They knew at bottom that they were only deceiving themselves. Also, at the bottom .
16. bottoms up , (used interjectionally to urge the downing of one's drink).
v.t.
17. to furnish with a bottom.
18. to base or found (usually fol. by on or upon ).
19. to discover the full meaning of (something); fathom.
20. to bring (a submarine) to rest on the ocean floor: They had to bottom the sub until the enemy cruisers had passed by.
v.i.
21. to be based; rest.
22. to strike against the bottom or end; reach the bottom.
23. (of an automotive vehicle) to sink vertically, as when bouncing after passing over a bump, so that the suspension reaches the lower limit of its motion: The car bottomed too easily on the bumpy road.
24. bottom out , to reach the lowest state or level: The declining securities market finally bottomed out and began to rise.
adj.
25. of or pertaining to the bottom or a bottom.
26. located on or at the bottom: I want the bottom book in the stack.
27. lowest: bottom prices.
28. living near or on the bottom: A flounder is a bottom fish.
29. fundamental: the bottom cause.
30. bet one's bottom dollar ,
a. to wager the last of one's money or resources.
b. to be positive or assured: You can bet your bottom dollar that something will prevent us from leaving on time.
[ bef. 1000; ME botme, OE botm; akin to ON botn, D bodem, G Boden, L fundus, Gk pythmén, Skt budhná ]
Syn. 1. base, foot. 8, 11 . foundation, groundwork.