Base - Basis

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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 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. (Zoöl.) 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 .
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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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Coloq. Altern base . See under . -- Coloq. Attic base . (Arch.) See under . -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Base plate , the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the steam engine; the bed plate. -- Coloq. 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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Base (bās), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Based (bāsd); p. pr. & vb. n. Basing.] [From , n.] To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon. Bacon.
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Base, v. t. [See , a., and cf. .] 1. To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [Obs.]
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If any . . . based his pike. Sir T. North.
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2. To reduce the value of; to debase. [Obs.]
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Metals which we can not base. Bacon.
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Baseball (�), n. 1. A game of ball, so called from the bases or bounds (four in number) which designate the circuit which each player must endeavor to make after striking the ball.
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2. The ball used in this game.
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Baseboard (�), n. (Arch.) A board, or other woodwork, carried round the walls of a room and touching the floor, to form a base and protect the plastering; -- also called washboard (in England), mopboard, and scrubboard.
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Baseborn (�), a. 1. Born out of wedlock. Gay.
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2. Born of low parentage.
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3. Vile; mean. “Thy baseborn heart.” Shak.
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Base-burner (�), n. A furnace or stove in which the fuel is contained in a hopper or chamber, and is fed to the fire as the lower stratum is consumed.
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Base-court (�), n. [F. basse-cour. See , a., and , n.] 1. The secondary, inferior, or rear courtyard of a large house; the outer court of a castle.
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2. (Law) An inferior court of law, not of record.
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Based (bāsd), p. p. & a. 1. Having a base, or having as a base; supported; as, broad-based.
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2. [See , n., 18-21.] Wearing, or protected by, bases. [Obs.] “Based in lawny velvet.” E. Hall.
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Basedow's disease (�). [Named for Dr. Basedow, a German physician.] (Med.) A disease characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland, prominence of the eyeballs, and inordinate action of the heart; -- called also exophthalmic goiter. Flint.
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base-forming adj. 1. causing formation of an alkali.
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Baselard (�), n. [OF. baselarde, LL. basillardus.] A short sword or dagger, worn in the fifteenth century. [Written also baslard.] Fairholt.
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Baseless, a. Without a base; having no foundation or support. “The baseless fabric of this vision.” Shak.
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baseline n. 1. an imaginary line or standard by which things are measured or compared; as, they established a baseline for the budget.
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2. the back line at each end of a tennis court.
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3. (Baseball) the lines between bases on a baseball field along which a baseball player must run while running the bases.
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4. a measurement that represents the value of a physical quantity (such as a voltage, or a level of radioactivity) in the absence of effects from other variables in a measurement, test or experiment; a control value.
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5. any horizontal line in a plot, graph, or diagram, or on a visual display in an electronic device, used as a reference point to which other values are referred.
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Basely, adv. 1. In a base manner; with despicable meanness; dishonorably; shamefully.
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2. Illegitimately; in bastardy. [Archaic] Knolles.
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Basement (bāsm�nt), n. [F. soubassement. Of uncertain origin. Cf. , a., .] (Arch.) The outer wall of the ground story of a building, or of a part of that story, when treated as a distinct substructure. (See , n., 3 (a).) Hence: The rooms of a ground floor, collectively.
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Coloq. Basement membrane (Anat.), a delicate membrane composed of a single layer of flat cells, forming the substratum upon which, in many organs, the epithelioid cells are disposed.
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Baseness (�), n. The quality or condition of being base; degradation; vileness.
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I once did hold it a baseness to write fair. Shak.
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Basenet (�), n. See . [Obs.]
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base pair (bās pâr), n. (Biochemistry, Genetics) a unit of double-stranded DNA or RNA consisting of two complementary bases on opposing strands of the double-stranded polynucleotide, bound together by hydrogen bonds and other non-covalent chemical forces. The bases comprising the base pairs are adenine, thymine, cytidine, and guanine. In normal DNA, the base adenine on one strand of DNA pairs with thymine on the opposite strand, and cytosine on one strand pairs with guanine on the opposite strand. The term base pair usually includes the sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) and the phosphate bound to each base to form a nucleotide unit. One base pair is sometimes used as a unit of length or size for DNA, and in this usage is abbreviated bp; as, a 100-bp fragment of DNA. A length of 1000 base pairs is a kilobase pair or kbp.
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base price (bās prīs), n. the initial price of something (goods or services) without the additional charges that may be added, such as handling or shipping charges, sales tax, optional equipment charges, etc.
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Base viol (�). See .
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Bash (�), v. t. & i. [OE. baschen, baissen. See .] To abash; to disconcert or be disconcerted or put out of countenance. [Obs.]
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His countenance was bold and bashed not. Spenser.
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Bash (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bashing.] [Perh. of imitative origin; or cf. Dan. baske to strike, bask a blow, Sw. basa to beat, bas a beating.] To strike heavily; to beat; to crush. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Hall Caine.
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Bash her open with a rock. Kipling.
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Bash (?), n. 1. a forceful blow, especially one that does damage to its target.
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2. a elaborate or lively social gathering or party.
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Bashaw (�), n. [See .] 1. A Turkish title of honor, now written pasha. See .
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2. Fig.: A magnate or grandee.
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3. (Zoöl.) A very large siluroid fish (Leptops olivaris) of the Mississippi valley; -- also called goujon, mud cat, and yellow cat.
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Bashful (băshfụl), a. [See .] 1. Abashed; daunted; dismayed. [Obs.]
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2. Very modest, or modest to excess; constitutionally disposed to shrink from public notice; indicating extreme or excessive modesty; shy; as, a bashful person, action, expression.
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Syn. -- Diffident; retiring; reserved; shamefaced; sheepish.
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Bashfully, adv. In a bashful manner.
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Bashfulness, n. The quality of being bashful.
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Syn. -- , , , . Modesty arises from a low estimate of ourselves; bashfulness is an abashment or agitation of the spirits at coming into contact with others; diffidence is produced by an undue degree of self-distrust; shyness usually arises from an excessive self-consciousness, and a painful impression that every one is looking at us. Modesty of deportment is becoming in all; bashfulness often gives rise to mistakes and blundering; diffidence in society frequently makes a man a burden to himself; shyness usually produces a reserve or distance which is often mistaken for haughtiness.
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Bashi-bazouk (băshĭbȧz�k), n. [Turkish, light-headed, a foolish fellow.] A soldier belonging to the irregular troops of the Turkish army.
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Bashless, a. Shameless; unblushing. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Bashyle (�), n. (Chem.) See .
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Basi- (�). A combining form, especially in anatomical and botanical words, to indicate the base or position at or near a base; forming a base; as, basibranchials, the most ventral of the cartilages or bones of the branchial arches; basicranial, situated at the base of the cranium; basifacial, basitemporal, etc.
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Basic (�), a. 1. (Chem.) (a) Relating to a base; performing the office of a base in a salt. (b) Having the base in excess, or the amount of the base atomically greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in proportion that of the related neutral salt. (c) Apparently alkaline, as certain normal salts which exhibit alkaline reactions with test paper.
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2. (Min.) Said of crystalline rocks which contain a relatively low percentage of silica, as basalt.
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Coloq. Basic salt (Chem.), a salt formed from a base or hydroxide by the partial replacement of its hydrogen by a negative or acid element or radical.
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BASIC n. 1. (Computers) [Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Iruction C.] an artificial computer language with a relatively simplified instruction set. Writing a program in BASIC or other higher computer languages is simpler than writing in assembly language. See also , .
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Basicerite (bȧsĭsẽrōt), n. [Basi- + Gr. keras horn, antenna.] (Zoöl.) The second joint of the antennæ of crustaceans.
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Basicity, n. (Chem.) (a) The quality or state of being a base. (b) The power of an acid to unite with one or more atoms or equivalents of a base, as indicated by the number of replaceable hydrogen atoms contained in the acid.
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Basic process. (Iron Metal.) A Bessemer or open-hearth steel-making process in which a lining that is basic, or not siliceous, is used, and additions of basic material are made to the molten charge during treatment. Opposed to acid process, above. Called also Thomas process.
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basics n. pl. 1. a statement of fundamental facts or principles.
Syn. -- ABC, ABC's, ABCs, rudiments.
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2. principles from which other truths can be derived; as, let's get down to basics.
Syn. -- fundamentals, fundamental principle, basic principle, bedrock.
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Basic slag. A by-product from the manufacture of steel by the basic process, used as a fertilizer. It is rich in lime and contains 14 to 20 per cent of phosphoric acid. Called also Thomas slag, phosphatic slag, and odorless phosphate.
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Basic steel. Steel produced by the basic process.
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basidial adj. of or pertaining to a basidium.
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basidiolichen n. a lichen in which the fungus component is a basidiomycete.
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basidiomycete n. 1. any of various fungi of the subdivision Basidiomycota.
Syn. -- basidiomycetous fungi.
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Basidiomycetes (?), n. pl. a phylum of fungi with the Basidiomycota
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basidiomycetous adj. of or pertaining to basidiomycetes.
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Basidiomycota (?), n. pl. (Bot.) [NL., fr. NL. & E. basidium + Gr. �, �, fungus.] (Bot.) A large subdivision of the kingdom Fungi coextensive with the phylum Basidiomycetes, characterized by having the spores borne on a basidium. It embraces those fungi best known to the public, such as mushrooms, toadstools, etc. Among the classes of the Basidiomycota are: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); and Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi). In the Webster, the Basidiomycetes were defined as coördinate with the Ascomycetes, and other fungal phyla (the Zygomycota and Deuteromycota) were not mentioned.
Syn. -- Basidiomycota, subdivision Basidiomycota, subdivision Basidiomycotina.
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Basidiomycotina n. same as .
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Basidiospore (�), n. [Basidium + spore.] (Bot.) A spore borne by a basidium. -- Basidiosporous (�), a.
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basidiosporous adj. of or pertaining to a basidiospore.
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Basidium (�), n. [NL., dim. of Gr. basis base.] (Bot.) A special oblong or pyriform cell, with slender branches, which bears the spores in that division of fungi called Basidiomycetes, of which the common mushroom is an example.
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Basifier (�), n. (Chem.) That which converts into a salifiable base.
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Basifugal (�), a. [Base,n.+ L. fugere to flee.] (Bot.) Tending or proceeding away from the base; as, a basifugal growth.
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Basify (�), v. t. [Base + -fy.] (Chem.) To convert into a salifiable base.
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Basigynium (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. basis base + gynh woman.] (Bot.) The pedicel on which the ovary of certain flowers, as the passion flower, is seated; a carpophore or thecaphore.
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Basihyal (�), a. [Basi- + Gr. υ (the letter “upsilon”); from the shape.] (Anat.) Noting two small bones, forming the body of the inverted hyoid arch.
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Basihyoid (�), n. [Basi- + hyoid.] (Anat.) The central tongue bone.
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Basil (băzĭl), n. [Cf. F. basile and E. .] The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. Grier.
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Basil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basiled (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Basiling.] To grind or form the edge of to an angle. Moxon.
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Basil, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr. basilikos fr. basileys king.] (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (Ocymum basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (Ocymum minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum).
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Coloq. Basil thyme , a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta. -- Coloq. Wild basil , a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family.
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Basil (băzĭl), n. [Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bithāna, prop., lining.] The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
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{ Basilar (�), Basilary (�), } a. [F. basilaire, fr. L. basis. See , n.] 1. Relating to, or situated at, the base.
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2. Lower; inferior; applied to impulses or springs of action. [R.] “Basilar instincts.” H. W. Beecher.
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basileus n. a ruler of the eastern Roman Empire.
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Basilic (�), n. [F. basilique.] Basilica.
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{ Basilic (�), Basilical (�), } a. [See .] 1. Royal; kingly; also, basilican.
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2. (Anat.) Pertaining to certain parts, anciently supposed to have a specially important function in the animal economy, as the middle vein of the right arm.
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Basilica (�), n.; pl. Basilicas (�); sometimes Basilicæ (-sē). [L. basilica, Gr. basilikh (sc. o'ikia or stoa fr. basilikos royal, fr. basileys king.] 1. Originally, the palace of a king; but afterward, an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for this purpose.
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2. (Arch.) (a) A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached. (b) A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction.
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Basilica, n. A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century. P. Cyc.
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Basilican (�), a. Of, relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical.
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There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were in the basilican form. Milman.
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Basilicok (�), n. [OF. basilicoc.] The basilisk. [Obs.] Chaucer
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Basilicon (�), n. [L. basilicon, Gr. basilikon neut. of basilikos: cf. F. basilicon. See .] (Med.) An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive oil, lard, or other fatty substance.
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Basilisk (�), n. [L. basiliscus, Gr. basiliskos little king, kind of serpent, dim. of basileys king; -- so named from some prominences on the head resembling a crown.] 1. A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See .
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Make me not sighted like the basilisk. Shak.
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2. (Zoöl.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidæ.
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☞ This genus is remarkable for a membranous bag rising above the occiput, which can be filled with air at pleasure; also for an elevated crest along the back, that can be raised or depressed at will.
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3. (Mil.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. [Obs.]
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Basin (�), n. [OF. bacin, F. bassin, LL. bacchinus, fr. bacca a water vessel, fr. L. bacca berry, in allusion to the round shape; or perh. fr. Celtic. Cf. .]
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1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
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2. The quantity contained in a basin.
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3. A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
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4. A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay. Pope
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5. (Physical Geog.) (a) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river. (b) The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake.
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6. (Geol.) An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; -- especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields.
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basinal adj. of or pertaining to a basin.
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Basined (�), a. Inclosed in a basin. “Basined rivers.” Young.
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Basinet (�), n. Same as .
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Basioccipital (�), a. [Basi- + occipital.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bone in the base of the cranium, frequently forming a part of the occipital in the adult, but usually distinct in the young. -- n. The basioccipital bone.
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Basion (�), n. [Gr. basis a base.] (Anat.) The middle of the anterior margin of the great foramen of the skull.
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Basipodite (�), n. [Basi- + poys, podos, foot.] (Anat.) The basal joint of the legs of Crustacea.
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Basipterygium (�), n. [NL., fr. Gr. basis a base + pterygion a fin.] (Anat.) A bar of cartilage at the base of the embryonic fins of some fishes. It develops into the metapterygium. -- Basipterygial (�), a.
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Basipterygoid (�), a. & n. [Basi- + pterygoid.] (Anat.) Applied to a protuberance of the base of the sphenoid bone.
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Basis (bāsĭs), n.; pl. Bases (bāsēz). [L. basis, Gr. basis. See , n.] 1. The foundation of anything; that on which a thing rests. Dryden.
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2. The pedestal of a column, pillar, or statue. [Obs.]
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If no basis bear my rising name. Pope.
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