base

base

I

base¹ S1 W1 /beɪs/ verb [transitive usually passive] to have your main place of work, business etc in a particular place:
    The paper had intended to base itself in London.
    be based in something
    The new organization will be based in Dallas. ⇨ based
     
base something on/upon something phrasal verb
  to use something as the thing from which something else is developed ⇨ basis:
    Their relationship was based upon mutual respect.
    an economy based on farming

II

base² S2 W2 noun1.  LOWEST PART  [countable usually singular]
  a. the lowest part or surface of something
   SYN  bottom
    base of
    There is a door at the base of the tower.
    the base of a triangle
    a frozen dessert with a biscuit base
    a wine glass with a heavy base
    The leather of his left trainer was coming away from its rubber base.
  b. the lowest point on a plant or part of your body, where it joins another part
   SYN  bottom
    base of
    a hole in the base of the tree
    He was killed by an axe blow to the base of his skull.
2.  KNOWLEDGE/IDEAS  [countable] the most important part of something, from which new ideas develop
   SYN  foundation:
    India has a good scientific research base.
    base for
    They were laying the base for a new economic recovery.
3.  MILITARY  [countable] a place where people in a military organization live and work
    military/naval/air base
4.  COMPANY/ORGANIZATION  [uncountable and countable] the main place from which a person, company, or organization controls their activities
    base for
    He used the house as a base for his printing business.
5.  PEOPLE/GROUPS  [countable usually singular] the people, money, groups etc that form the main part of something:
    The company has built up a loyal customer base.
    By broadening the tax base (=all the people who pay taxes), he could raise more revenues.
    an attempt to strengthen the city’s economic base (=things that produce jobs and money)
    The country’s manufacturing base (=all the factories, companies etc that produce goods in a country) has shrunk by 20%. ⇨ power base
6.  SUBSTANCE/MIXTURE  [singular, uncountable] the main part of a substance, meal etc to which other things are added:
    paint with an oil base
    base for
    Vodka is the base for many cocktails.
7.  SPORT  [countable] one of the four places that a player must touch in order to get a point in games such as baseball
8. be off base American English informal to be completely wrong:
    His estimate for painting the kitchen seems way off base.
9.  CHEMICAL  [countable] technical a chemical substance that combines with an acid to form a salt
10.  NUMBERS  [countable usually singular] technical the number in relation to which a number system or mathematical table is built up, for example 10 in the decimal system
11. touch base (with somebody) to talk to someone to find out what is happening about something
—basal adjective
⇨ cover (all) the bases at cover¹(12)
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a good base This data provided a good base for further research.
   ▪ a solid/firm/strong base A good education should give you a solid base for life.
   ▪ a sound/secure base A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
   ▪ a broad base The first year of the course aims to provide students with a broad base of knowledge.
   ▪ a knowledge base You’re building up a knowledge base that you’ll be able to use later.
■ verbs
   ▪ have a base Permanent staff have a better base from which to plan their career development.
   ▪ provide a base It is essential to provide a sound base from which economic progress can be made.
   ▪ build a base By concentrating on our core businesses we will build a strong base from which to exploit future opportunities.
   ▪ give somebody a base The training gives you a broad base in actually running an organization.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ the bottom the lowest part of something: The house is at the bottom of that hill. | She scrolled down to the bottom of the screen.
   ▪ the underneath/the underside the bottom surface on the outside of something: You will find the serial number on the underneath of the vacuum cleaner.
   ▪ base the lowest part or the wide bottom part on which something stands: The lamp has a square base. | He had broken a bone at the base of his spine.
   ▪ the foot literary the bottom of a tree, a hill, or some stairs: There was a small village at the foot of the mountain.
   ▪ bed the ground at the bottom of a river, a lake, or the sea: the sea bed | They found some interesting stones on the river bed.
   ▪ the foundations the layer of cement and stones that forms the bottom of a building: The builders have begun laying the foundations for the house.

III

base³ adjectivenot having good moral principles:
    base attitudes and desires
⇨ base metal