Base course

Base course
Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba`sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai`nein 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. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound. [1913 Webster]

7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. --Ure. [1913 Webster]

8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions. [1913 Webster]

9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand. [1913 Webster]

10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms. [1913 Webster]

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}.] [1913 Webster]

The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

14. (Zo["o]l.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ. [1913 Webster]

15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal. [1913 Webster]

16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline. [1913 Webster]

17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See {Escutcheon}. [1913 Webster]

18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

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.] [1913 Webster]

20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

21. An apron. [Obs.] ``Bakers in their linen bases.'' --Marston. [1913 Webster]

22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games. [1913 Webster]

To their appointed base they went. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

24. A rustic play; -- called also {prisoner's base}, {prison base}, or {bars}. ``To run the country base.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • base course — noun Etymology: base (III) 1. a. : the first or lowest course of a wall (as of a foundation wall or of the wall of a building above the basement) b. : the bottom layer of material laid down in the construction of a pavement …   Useful english dictionary

  • base course material — noun material used as a foundation, as for a road, before the finishing or sealing surface is applied …  

  • Base — Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai nein 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Base hit — Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai nein 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Base line — Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai nein 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Base plate — Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai nein 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Base ring — Base Base, n. [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. ba sis a stepping, step, a base, pedestal, fr. bai nein 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • base — i. A location where aircraft with all facilities are based. Refers to an air force base, naval air station, and fixed base operator. ii. In air traffic control phraseology and when transmitted on the radio, it means turning onto the base leg of… …   Aviation dictionary

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