base
♦♦♦ base /b'eɪs/ (bases basing based baser basest)
1 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The base of something is its lowest edge or part.
There was a cycle path running along this side of the wall, right at its base...
Line the base and sides of a 20cm deep round cake tin with paper.
= bottom
≠ top
2 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The base of something is the lowest part of it, where it is attached to something else.
The surgeon placed catheters through the veins and arteries near the base of the head.
3 [N-COUNT] usu with poss
The base of an object such as a box or vase is the lower surface of it that touches the surface it rests on.
Remove from the heat and plunge the base of the pan into a bowl of very cold water.
= bottom, underneath
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft n N
The base of an object that has several sections and that rests on a surface is the lower section of it.
The mattress is best on a solid bed base...
The clock stands on an oval marble base, enclosed by a glass dome.
5 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A base is a layer of something which will have another layer added to it.
Spoon the mixture on to the biscuit base and cook in a pre-heated oven...
On many modern wooden boats, epoxy coatings will have been used as a base for varnishing.
6 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp
A position or thing that is a base for something is one from which that thing can be developed or achieved.
The family base was crucial to my development.
= basis, foundation
7 [VERB] V n on/upon n
If you base one thing on another thing, the first thing develops from the second thing.
He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners.
● based [ADJ] v-link ADJ on/upon n
Three of the new products are based on traditional herbal medicines...
8 [N-COUNT]
A company's client base or customer base is the group of regular clients or customers that the company gets most of its income from. (BUSINESS)
The company has been expanding its customer base using trade magazine advertising.
9 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A military base is a place which part of the armed forces works from.
Gunfire was heard at an army base close to the airport.
...a massive air base in eastern Saudi Arabia.
10 [N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your base is the main place where you work, stay, or live.
For most of the spring and early summer her base was her home in Scotland.
11 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N prep
If a place is a base for a certain activity, the activity can be carried out at that place or from that place.
The two hotel-restaurants are attractive bases from which to explore southeast Tuscany...
12 [N-COUNT]
The base of a substance such as paint or food is the main ingredient of it, to which other substances can be added.
Drain off any excess marinade and use it as a base for a pouring sauce...
Oils may be mixed with a base oil and massaged into the skin.
13 [N-COUNT] also N num
A base is a system of counting and expressing numbers. The decimal system uses base 10, and the binary system uses base 2.
14 [N-COUNT]
A base in baseball, softball, or rounders is one of the places at each corner of the square on the pitch.air base (air bases)
also airbase
[N-COUNT]
An air base is a centre where military aircraft take off or land and are serviced, and where many of the centre's staff live.base met|al (base metals)
[N-VAR]
A base metal is a metal such as copper, zinc, tin, or lead that is not a precious metal.
≠ precious metalbase rate (base rates)
[N-COUNT]
In Britain, the base rate is the rate of interest that banks use as a basis when they are calculating the rates that they charge on loans. (BUSINESS)
Bank base rates of 7 per cent are too high.cli|ent base (client bases)
[N-COUNT]
A business's client base is the same as its customer base. (BUSINESS)
Enviros Consulting has a client base of more than 2,000 organisations worldwide.cus|tom|er base (customer bases)
[N-COUNT]
A business's customer base is all its regular customers, considered as a group. (BUSINESS)
...Halifax's customer base of 21 million people.fan base (fan bases)
or fanbase
[N-COUNT] usu sing with poss
The fan base of someone such as a pop star or a pop group is their fans, considered as a whole.
His fan base is mostly middle-aged ladies.pow|er base (power bases)
also power-base
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The power base of a politician or other leader is the area or the group of people from which they get most support, and which enables him or her to become powerful.
Milan was Mr Craxi's home town and his power base.
1 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The base of something is its lowest edge or part.
There was a cycle path running along this side of the wall, right at its base...
Line the base and sides of a 20cm deep round cake tin with paper.
= bottom
≠ top
2 [N-COUNT] usu the N of n
The base of something is the lowest part of it, where it is attached to something else.
The surgeon placed catheters through the veins and arteries near the base of the head.
3 [N-COUNT] usu with poss
The base of an object such as a box or vase is the lower surface of it that touches the surface it rests on.
Remove from the heat and plunge the base of the pan into a bowl of very cold water.
= bottom, underneath
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft n N
The base of an object that has several sections and that rests on a surface is the lower section of it.
The mattress is best on a solid bed base...
The clock stands on an oval marble base, enclosed by a glass dome.
5 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A base is a layer of something which will have another layer added to it.
Spoon the mixture on to the biscuit base and cook in a pre-heated oven...
On many modern wooden boats, epoxy coatings will have been used as a base for varnishing.
6 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp
A position or thing that is a base for something is one from which that thing can be developed or achieved.
The family base was crucial to my development.
= basis, foundation
7 [VERB] V n on/upon n
If you base one thing on another thing, the first thing develops from the second thing.
He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners.
● based [ADJ] v-link ADJ on/upon n
Three of the new products are based on traditional herbal medicines...
8 [N-COUNT]
A company's client base or customer base is the group of regular clients or customers that the company gets most of its income from. (BUSINESS)
The company has been expanding its customer base using trade magazine advertising.
9 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A military base is a place which part of the armed forces works from.
Gunfire was heard at an army base close to the airport.
...a massive air base in eastern Saudi Arabia.
10 [N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your base is the main place where you work, stay, or live.
For most of the spring and early summer her base was her home in Scotland.
11 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N prep
If a place is a base for a certain activity, the activity can be carried out at that place or from that place.
The two hotel-restaurants are attractive bases from which to explore southeast Tuscany...
12 [N-COUNT]
The base of a substance such as paint or food is the main ingredient of it, to which other substances can be added.
Drain off any excess marinade and use it as a base for a pouring sauce...
Oils may be mixed with a base oil and massaged into the skin.
13 [N-COUNT] also N num
A base is a system of counting and expressing numbers. The decimal system uses base 10, and the binary system uses base 2.
14 [N-COUNT]
A base in baseball, softball, or rounders is one of the places at each corner of the square on the pitch.air base (air bases)
also airbase
[N-COUNT]
An air base is a centre where military aircraft take off or land and are serviced, and where many of the centre's staff live.base met|al (base metals)
[N-VAR]
A base metal is a metal such as copper, zinc, tin, or lead that is not a precious metal.
≠ precious metalbase rate (base rates)
[N-COUNT]
In Britain, the base rate is the rate of interest that banks use as a basis when they are calculating the rates that they charge on loans. (BUSINESS)
Bank base rates of 7 per cent are too high.cli|ent base (client bases)
[N-COUNT]
A business's client base is the same as its customer base. (BUSINESS)
Enviros Consulting has a client base of more than 2,000 organisations worldwide.cus|tom|er base (customer bases)
[N-COUNT]
A business's customer base is all its regular customers, considered as a group. (BUSINESS)
...Halifax's customer base of 21 million people.fan base (fan bases)
or fanbase
[N-COUNT] usu sing with poss
The fan base of someone such as a pop star or a pop group is their fans, considered as a whole.
His fan base is mostly middle-aged ladies.pow|er base (power bases)
also power-base
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The power base of a politician or other leader is the area or the group of people from which they get most support, and which enables him or her to become powerful.
Milan was Mr Craxi's home town and his power base.