base

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality

   that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble- Edmund Burke

2. 2
   adj

   of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)

   baseborn wretches with dirty faces

3. 3
   adj

   serving as or forming a base

   the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats

4. 4
   adj

   not adhering to ethical or moral principles

   base and unpatriotic motives

5. 5
   adj

   (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal

   base coins of aluminum

6. 6
   noun

   a support or foundation

   the base of the lamp

7. 7
   noun

   installation from which a military force initiates operations

   the attack wiped out our forward bases

8. 8
   noun

   a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit

   a tub should sit on its own base

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *gʷémtis Proto-Hellenic *gʷə́tis Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs)bor. Latin basis Old French basebor. Middle English base English base From Middle English base, bas, baas, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). Doublet of basis and bass.