base

A2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /beɪs/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like vase /v/ vs /b/

adj noun Freq #1629

Meanings

1

noun
The bottom part of something that it stands or rests on.

The lamp has a heavy metal base so it won't tip over.
2

noun
A place from which an army, company, or activity is run.

The soldiers returned to their base after the mission.
3

adj
Lacking honor or morals; shameful.

He acted out of base and selfish motives.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the bottom part of... stand foundation bottom

2 noun · a place from which an army,... base of operations

3 adj · lacking honor or morals;... mean immoral dishonorable

More alkali common evil insignificantlow-bornlowly plebeian vulgar

Opposites

acid admirable apex desirablelikeablenoble

Word family

Forms baselybaserbasesbasestbasing

Derived forms abaseacid-basebasalbase-ballbase-burnerbase-on-ballsbase-playerbase-playingbase-runningbase-stealerbase-stealingbaseball

Related forms successor

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.

*gʷem- Proto-Indo-European base Middle English basis Latin βάσις Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction

# base

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** beɪs
**Frequency rank:** 1629

## Meanings
1. The bottom part of something that it stands or rests on.
2. A place from which an army, company, or activity is run.
3. Lacking honor or morals; shameful.

## Examples
- The lamp has a heavy metal base so it won't tip over.
- The soldiers returned to their base after the mission.
- He acted out of base and selfish motives.

## Synonyms
- alkali
- common
- evil
- insignificant
- low-born
- lowly
- plebeian
- vulgar

## Antonyms
- acid
- admirable
- apex
- desirable
- likeable
- noble

## Derived Forms
- abase
- acid-base
- basal
- base-ball
- base-burner
- base-on-balls
- base-player
- base-playing
- base-running
- base-stealer
- base-stealing
- baseball

## Related Forms
- successor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gʷem-
- Root: base
- Root: basis
- Root: βάσις

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Base comes from Middle English base, bas, baas, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis). Doublet of basis and bass. Base's historical chain begins with Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- and Proto-Indo-European *-tis and later passes through Ancient Greek βᾰ́σῐς (bắsĭs), Latin basis, Old French base, Middle English base, English base.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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base

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