base
bays
- n installation from which a military force initiates operations
the attack wiped out our forward bases - n lowest support of a structure
it was built on a base of solid rock - n a place that the runner must touch before scoring
- n the bottom or lowest part
the base of the mountain - n (anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment
the base of the skull - n a lower limit
- n the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
- n a support or foundation
the base of the lamp - n a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)
- n any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia - n the bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed
the base of the triangle - n the most important or necessary part of something
- n (numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place
- n the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
- n a terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups; has cells in more than 50 countries
- n (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
- n the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area
the industrial base of Japan - n the principal ingredient of a mixture
glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
he told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base - n a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit
a tub should sit on its own base - n (electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
- v use as a basis for; found on
base a claim on some observation - v situate as a center of operations
we will base this project in the new lab - v use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
- s serving as or forming a base
the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats - s of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
baseborn wretches with dirty faces - s (used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal
base coins of aluminum
a base metal - s not adhering to ethical or moral principles
base and unpatriotic motives
a base, degrading way of life - s having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble"- Edmund Burke - s illegitimate
- s debased; not genuine
an attempt to eliminate the base coinage
- I'm struck by the stark difference in the ways Democratic and Republican candidates have reacted to two events this week that at least potentially play to each party's base voters.
- There's a separate base station, a little silver box where you plug in your equipment.
- Rumsfeld proposes closing 33 of the Pentagon's 318 major military bases.