Base \Base\, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba`sis a stepping,
step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai`nein to go, step, akin to E.
come. Cf. Basis, and see Come.]
1. The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that
on which something rests for support; the foundation; as,
the base of a statue. "The base of mighty mountains."
--Prescott.
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2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the
essential principle; a groundwork.
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3. (Arch.)
(a) The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when
treated as a separate feature, usually in projection,
or especially ornamented.
(b) The lower part of a complete architectural design, as
of a monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate
piece of furniture or decoration.
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4. (Bot.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it
is attached to its support.
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5. (Chem.) 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.
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6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound.
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7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. --Ure.
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8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that
imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two
adjacent bastions.
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9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a
figure on which it is supposed to stand.
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10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is
constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
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11. [See Base low.] A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.)
(a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice.
(b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
[Now commonly written bass.]
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The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
--Dryden.
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12. (Mil.) 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.
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13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.]
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14. (Zool.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to
another more central organ.
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15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal.
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16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not
distinctly crystalline.
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17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
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18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.]
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19. pl. 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. [Obs.]
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20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.]
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21. An apron. [Obs.] "Bakers in their linen bases."
--Marston.
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22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting
place or a goal in various games.
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To their appointed base they went. --Dryden.
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23. (Surv.) 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. --Lyman.
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24. A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base, prison
base, or bars. "To run the country base." --Shak.
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25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the
circuit of the infield.
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Altern base. See under Altern.
Attic base. (Arch.) See under Attic.
Base course. (Arch.)
(a) The first or lower course of a foundation wall, made
of large stones or a mass of concrete; -- called also
foundation course.
(b) The architectural member forming the transition
between the basement and the wall above.
Base hit (Baseball), a hit, by which the batsman, without
any error on the part of his opponents, is able to reach
the first base without being put out.
Base line.
(a) A main line taken as a base, as in surveying or in
military operations.
(b) A line traced round a cannon at the rear of the vent.
Base plate, the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of
the steam engine; the bed plate.
Base ring (Ordnance), a projecting band of metal around the
breech, connected with the body of the gun by a concave
molding. --H. L. Scott.
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