GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 6 definitions 

  1.       

    Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. βάσις a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. βαίνειν 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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  2.       

    Bass , n.; pl. Bass, and sometimes Basses . [A corruption of barse.] (Zool.)
    1. An edible, spiny-finned fish, esp. of the genera Roccus, Labrax, and related genera. There are many species.
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      ☞ The common European bass is Labrax lupus. American species are: the striped bass (Roccus lineatus); white or silver bass of the lakes (Roccus chrysops); brass or yellow bass (Roccus interruptus).
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    2. The two American fresh-water species of black bass (genus Micropterus). See Black bass.
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    3. Species of Serranus, the sea bass and rock bass. See Sea bass.
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    4. The southern, red, or channel bass (Sciæna ocellata). See Redfish.
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      ☞ The name is also applied to many other fishes. See Calico bass, under Calico.
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  3.       

    Bass, n. [A corruption of bast.]
    1. (Bot.) The linden or lime tree, sometimes wrongly called whitewood; also, its bark, which is used for making mats. See Bast.
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    2.  A hassock or thick mat.
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  4.       

    Bass , n. [F. basse, fr. bas low. See Base, a.]
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    1. A bass, or deep, sound or tone.
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    2. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part in a musical composition. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, bass. [Written also base.]
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      Thorough bass. See Thorough bass.
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  5.       

    Bass, a. Deep or grave in tone.
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    Bass clef (Mus.), the character placed at the beginning of the staff containing the bass part of a musical composition. [See Illust. under Clef.] -- Bass voice, a deep-sounding voice; a voice fitted for singing bass.
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  6.       

    Bass, v. t. To sound in a deep tone. [R.]
    Shak.

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