Basisolute - Bastioned

Prev Next

3. The groundwork; the first or fundamental principle; that which supports.
[ Webster]

The basis of public credit is good faith. A. Hamilton.
[ Webster]

4. The principal component part of a thing.
[ Webster]

Basisolute (bȧsĭs�lūt), a. [Basi- + solute, a.] (Bot.) Prolonged at the base, as certain leaves.
[ Webster]

{ Basisphenoid (�), Basisphenoidal (�), } a. [Basi- + sphenoid.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to that part of the base of the cranium between the basioccipital and the presphenoid, which usually ossifies separately in the embryo or in the young, and becomes a part of the sphenoid in the adult.
[ Webster]

Basisphenoid, n. (Anat.) The basisphenoid bone.
[ Webster]

Bask (bȧsk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basked (bȧskt); p. pr. & vb. n. Basking.] [OScand. baðask to bathe one's self, or perh. bakask to bake one's self, sk being reflexive. See , n., , v. t.] To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat.
[ Webster]

Basks in the glare, and stems the tepid wave. Goldsmith.
[ Webster]

Bask, v. t. To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat.
[ Webster]

Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton.
[ Webster]

Basket (�), n. [Of unknown origin. The modern Celtic words seem to be from the English.] 1. A vessel made of osiers or other twigs, cane, rushes, splints, or other flexible material, interwoven. “Rude baskets . . . woven of the flexile willow.” Dyer.
[ Webster]

2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket contains; as, a basket of peaches.
[ Webster]

3. (Arch.) The bell or vase of the Corinthian capital. [Improperly so used.] Gwilt.
[ Webster]

4. The two back seats facing one another on the outside of a stagecoach. [Eng.] Goldsmith.
[ Webster]

5. A container shaped like a basket{1}, even if made of solid material rather than woven; -- the top is often, but not always, open and without a lid.
[PJC]

6. a vessel suspended below a balloon, designed to carry people or measuring instruments for scientific research. The earliest balloons designed to carry people often had small vessels of woven flexible vegetable materials to hold the passengers, which resembled large baskets{1}, from which the name was derived.
[PJC]

7. (Basketball) A goal{3} consisting of a short cylindrical net suspended from a circular rim, which itself is attached at about ten feet above floor level to a backboard, placed at the end of a basketball court. In professional basketball, two such baskets are used, one at each end of the court, and each team may score only by passing the ball though its own basket. In informal games, only one such basket is often used.
[PJC]

8. (Basketball) An instance of scoring points by throwing the basketball through the basket; as, he threw four baskets in the first quarter; -- the ball must pass through the basket from above in order to score points.
[PJC]

Coloq. Basket fish (Zoöl.), an ophiuran of the genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See . -- Coloq. Basket hilt , a hilt with a covering wrought like basketwork to protect the hand. Hudibras. Hence, Coloq. Basket-hilted , a. -- Coloq. Basket work , work consisting of plaited osiers or twigs. -- Coloq. Basket worm (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of the genus Thyridopteryx and allied genera, esp. Thyridopteryx ephemeræformis. The larva makes and carries about a bag or basket-like case of silk and twigs, which it afterwards hangs up to shelter the pupa and wingless adult females. -- Coloq. collection basket , a small basket{1} mounted on the end of a pole, used in churches to collect donations from those attending a church service; -- the long pole allows the collector to hold the basket in front of those at the end of the pew, while the collector remains in the aisle. Coloq. waste basket , a basket{4} used to hold waste matter, such as discarded paper, commonly shaped like a truncated cone, with the wide end open and at the top. Vessels of other shapes, such as oblong containers, are also called waste baskets.
[ Webster +PJC]

Basket, v. t. To put into a basket. [R.]
[ Webster]

Basketball, n. 1. A ball game, usually played indoors in an area called the basketball court, in which two opposing teams of five players each contest with each other to toss a large inflated ball (the basketball) into opposite goals (baskets) resembling baskets, each typically a cylindrical mesh suspended from a circular rim which is held ten feet above the court. A goal scored by passing the basketball through the basket may count from one to three points, depending on the situation in which it was thrown.
Syn. -- basketball game.
[Webster Suppl. WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

2. The inflatable ball used in the game of basketball.
[PJC]

Basketful (�), n.; pl. Basketfuls (�). As much as a basket will contain.
[ Webster]

Basketry (�), n. The art of making baskets; also, baskets, taken collectively.
[ Webster]

Basking shark (�). (Zoöl.) One of the largest species of sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), so called from its habit of basking in the sun; the liver shark, or bone shark. It inhabits the northern seas of Europe and America, and grows to a length of more than forty feet. It is a harmless species.
[ Webster]

Basnet (�), n. Same as .
[ Webster]

Basommatophora (bȧsŏmmȧtŏf�rȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. basis base + 'omma eye + ferein to bear.] (Zoöl.) A group of Pulmonifera having the eyes at the base of the tentacles, including the common pond snails.
[ Webster]

Bason (bās'n), n. A basin. [Obs. or Special form]
[ Webster]

Basque (bȧsk), a. [F.] Pertaining to Biscay, its people, or their language.
[ Webster]

Basque (bȧsk), n. [F.] 1. One of a race, of unknown origin, inhabiting a region on the Bay of Biscay in Spain and France.
[ Webster]

2. The language spoken by the Basque people.
[ Webster]

3. A part of a lady's dress, resembling a jacket with a short skirt; -- probably so called because this fashion of dress came from the Basques.
[ Webster]

Basquish (�), a. [F. Basque Biscayan: cf. G. Baskisch.] Pertaining to the country, people, or language of Biscay; Basque [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
[ Webster]

Bas-relief (�), n. [F. bas-relief; bas low + relief raised work, relever to raise: cf. It. bassorilievo.] Low relief; sculpture, the figures of which project less than half of their true proportions; -- called also bass-relief and basso-rilievo. See .
[ Webster]

Bass (bȧs), n.; pl. Bass, and sometimes Basses (bȧsĕz). [A corruption of barse.] (Zoöl.) 1. An edible, spiny-finned fish, esp. of the genera Roccus, Labrax, and related genera. There are many species.
[ Webster]

☞ 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).
[ Webster]

2. The two American fresh-water species of black bass (genus Micropterus). See .
[ Webster]

3. Species of Serranus, the sea bass and rock bass. See .
[ Webster]

4. The southern, red, or channel bass (Sciæna ocellata). See .
[ Webster]

☞ The name is also applied to many other fishes. See Calico bass, under .
[ Webster]

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 .
[ Webster]

2. (Pron. �) A hassock or thick mat.
[ Webster]

Bass (bās), n. [F. basse, fr. bas low. See , a.]
[ Webster]

1. A bass, or deep, sound or tone.
[ Webster]

2. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part in a musical composition. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, bass. [Written also base.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. Thorough bass . See .
[ Webster]

Bass, a. Deep or grave in tone.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bass clef (Mus.), the character placed at the beginning of the staff containing the bass part of a musical composition. [See Illust. under .] -- Coloq. Bass voice , a deep-sounding voice; a voice fitted for singing bass.
[ Webster]

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

{ Bassa (�), Bassaw } (�), n. See .
[ Webster]

Bassariscidae n. a division of mammals, in some classifications considered a separate family.
Syn. -- subfamily Bassariscidae.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bassariscus n. a genus comprising the cacomistles. See .
Syn. -- genus Bassariscus.
[WordNet 1.5]

bassarisk n. A raccoonlike omnivorous mammal (Bassariscus astutus) of Mexico and southwestern U. S. having a long bushy tail with black and white rings.
Syn. -- cacomistle, cacomixle, coon cat, raccoon fox, ringtail, ring-tailed cat, civet cat, miner's cat.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bass drum (�). (Mus.) The largest of the different kinds of drums, having two heads, and emitting a deep, grave sound. See , a.
[ Webster]

Basset (băssĕt or băssĕt), n. [F. bassette, fr. It. bassetta. Cf. .] A game at cards, resembling the modern faro, said to have been invented at Venice.
[ Webster]

Some dress, some dance, some play, not to forget
Your piquet parties, and your dear basset. Rowe.
[ Webster]

Basset (băssĕt), a. [Cf. OF. basset somewhat low, dim. of bas low.] (Geol.) Inclined upward; as, the basset edge of strata. Lyell.
[ Webster]

Basset, n. (Geol.) The edge of a geological stratum at the surface of the ground; the outcrop.
[ Webster]

Basset, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basseted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basseting.] (Geol.) To incline upward so as to appear at the surface; to crop out; as, a vein of coal bassets.
[ Webster]

Basset horn (băssĕt hôrn). [See , a.] (Mus.) An instrument blown with a reed, and resembling a clarinet, but of much greater compass, embracing nearly four octaves; The corno di bassetto.
[ Webster]

Basset hound (�). [F. basset.] (Zoöl.) A small kind of hound with a long body and short legs, used as an earth dog.
[ Webster]

Basseting, n. The upward direction of a vein in a mine; the emergence of a stratum at the surface.
[ Webster]

Bassetto (�), n. [It., adj., somewhat low; n., counter tenor. See .] (Mus.) A tenor or small bass viol.
[ Webster]

Bass horn (�). (Mus.) A modification of the bassoon, much deeper in tone.
[ Webster]

bassine n. 1. Coarse leaf fiber from palmyra palms used in making brushes and brooms.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bassinet (�), n. [Cf. F. bassinet, dim. of bassin. See , and cf. .] 1. A wicker basket, with a covering or hood over one end, in which young children are placed as in a cradle.
[ Webster]

2. See . Lord Lytton.
[ Webster]

Basso (�), n. [It., fr. LL. bassus. See , a.] (Mus.) (a) The bass or lowest part; as, to sing basso. (b) One who sings the lowest part. (c) The double bass, or contrabasso.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Basso continuo (�). [It., bass continued.] (Mus.) A bass part written out continuously, while the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures attached to the bass; continued bass.
[ Webster]

Bassock (�), n. A hassock. See 2d , 2.
[ Webster]

Bassoon (�), n. [F. basson, fr. basse bass; or perh. fr. bas son low sound. See a part in music. ] (Mus.) A wind instrument of the double reed kind, furnished with holes, which are stopped by the fingers, and by keys, as in flutes. It forms the natural bass to the oboe, clarinet, etc.
[ Webster]

☞ Its compass comprehends three octaves. For convenience of carriage it is divided into two parts; whence it is also called a fagot.
[ Webster]

Bassoonist, n. A performer on the bassoon. Busby.
[ Webster]

{ Basso-rilievo (�), Basso-relievo } (�), n. [It. basso-rilievo.] Same as .
[ Webster]

Bassorin (�), n. [Cf. F. bassorine.] (Chem.) A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of gum tragacanth and some gum resins. It is one of the amyloses. Ure.
[ Webster]

Bass-relief (�), n. Same as .
[ Webster]

Bass viol (�). (Mus.) A stringed instrument of the viol family, used for playing bass. See 3d , n., and .
[ Webster]

Basswood (�), n. (Bot.) The bass (Tilia) or its wood; especially, Tilia Americana. See , the lime tree.
[ Webster]

All the bowls were made of basswood,
White and polished very smoothly. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

Bast (�), n. [AS. bæst; akin to Icel., Sw., Dan., D., & G. bast, of unknown origin. Cf. the tree.] 1. The inner fibrous bark of various plants; esp. of the lime tree; hence, matting, cordage, etc., made therefrom.
[ Webster]

2. A thick mat or hassock. See 2d , 2.
[ Webster]

Basta (�), interj. [It.] Enough; stop. Shak.
[ Webster]

Bastard (�), n. [OF. bastard, bastart, F. b�tard, prob. fr. OF. bast, F. b�t, a packsaddle used as a bed by the muleteers (fr. LL. bastum) + -ard. OF. fils de bast son of the packsaddle; as the muleteers were accustomed to use their saddles for beds in the inns. See Cervantes, “Don Quixote,” chap. 16; and cf. G. bankert, fr. bank bench.] 1. A “natural” child; a child begotten and born out of wedlock; an illegitimate child; one born of an illicit union.
[ Webster]

☞ By the civil and canon laws, and by the laws of many of the United States, a bastard becomes a legitimate child by the intermarriage of the parents at any subsequent time. But by those of England, and of some states of the United States, a child, to be legitimate, must at least be born after the lawful marriage. Kent. Blackstone.
[ Webster]

2. (Sugar Refining) (a) An inferior quality of soft brown sugar, obtained from the sirups that have already had several boilings. (b) A large size of mold, in which sugar is drained.
[ Webster]

3. A sweet Spanish wine like muscatel in flavor.
[ Webster]

Brown bastard is your only drink. Shak.
[ Webster]

4. A writing paper of a particular size. See .
[ Webster]

Bastard (�), a. 1. Begotten and born out of lawful matrimony; illegitimate. See , n., note.
[ Webster]

2. Lacking in genuineness; spurious; false; adulterate; -- applied to things which resemble those which are genuine, but are really not so.
[ Webster]

That bastard self-love which is so vicious in itself, and productive of so many vices. Barrow.
[ Webster]

3. Of an unusual or irregular make or proportion; as, a bastard musket; a bastard culverin. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

4. (Print.) Abbreviated, as the half title in a page preceding the full title page of a book.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bastard ashlar (Arch.), stones for ashlar work, roughly squared at the quarry. -- Coloq. Bastard file , a file intermediate between the coarsest and the second cut. -- Coloq. Bastard type (Print.), type having the face of a larger or a smaller size than the body; e. g., a nonpareil face on a brevier body. -- Coloq. Bastard wing (Zoöl.), three to five quill feathers on a small joint corresponding to the thumb in some mammalia; the alula.
[ Webster]

Bastard, v. t. To bastardize. [Obs.] Bacon.
[ Webster]

bastardisation n. An act that debases or corrupts. [chiefly Brit.]
Syn. -- bastardization.
[WordNet 1.5]

bastardise v. t. Same as . [chiefly Brit.]
[PJC]

Bastardism (�), n. The state of being a bastard; bastardy.
[ Webster]

bastardization n. An act that debases or corrupts.
Syn. -- bastardisation.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bastardize (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bastardized (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Bastardizing.] 1. To make or prove to be a bastard; to stigmatize as a bastard; to declare or decide legally to be illegitimate.
[ Webster]

The law is so indulgent as not to bastardize the child, if born, though not begotten, in lawful wedlock. Blackstone.
[ Webster]

2. To beget out of wedlock. [R.] Shak.
[ Webster]

3. to change something (for example, art forms) so that its value declines; to debase.
Syn. -- bastardise.
[WordNet 1.5]

bastardized adj. (Arts) deriving from more than one source or style. impure (vs. pure) --- (combined with extraneous elements)
[WordNet 1.5]

Bastardly, a. Bastardlike; baseborn; spurious; corrupt. [Obs.] -- adv. In the manner of a bastard; spuriously. [Obs.] Shak. Donne.
[ Webster]

Bastardy (�), n. 1. The state of being a bastard; illegitimacy.
[ Webster]

2. The procreation of a bastard child. Wharton.
[ Webster]

Baste (bāst), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basting.] [Cf. Icel. beysta to strike, powder; Sw. basa to beat with a rod: perh. akin to E. beat.] 1. To beat with a stick; to cudgel.
[ Webster]

One man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his back through the waters. Pepys.
[ Webster]

2. (Cookery) To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meat in roasting.
[ Webster]

3. To mark with tar, as sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Baste, v. t. [OE. basten, OF. bastir, F. b�tir, prob. fr. OHG. bestan to sew, MHG. besten to bind, fr. OHG. bast bast. See .] To sew loosely, or with long stitches; -- usually, that the work may be held in position until sewed more firmly. Shak.
[ Webster]

{ Bastile Bastille } (bȧstēl or bȧst�l; 277), n. [F. bastille fortress, OF. bastir to build, F. bâtir.]
[ Webster]

1. (Feud. Fort.) A tower or an elevated work, used for the defense, or in the siege, of a fortified place.
[ Webster]

The high bastiles . . . which overtopped the walls. Holland.
[ Webster]

2. “The Bastille”, formerly a castle or fortress in Paris, used as a prison, especially for political offenders; hence, a rhetorical name for a prison.
[ Webster]

Bastinade (�), n. See , n.
[ Webster]

Bastinade, v. t. To bastinado. [Archaic]
[ Webster]

Bastinado (�), n.; pl. Bastinadoes (�). [Sp. bastonada (cf. F. bastonnade), fr. baston (cf. F. bâton) a stick or staff. See .]
[ Webster]

1. A blow with a stick or cudgel.
[ Webster]

2. A sound beating with a stick or cudgel. Specifically: A form of punishment among the Turks, Chinese, and others, consisting in beating an offender on the soles of his feet.
[ Webster]

Bastinado, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bastinadoed (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Bastinadoing.] To beat with a stick or cudgel, especially on the soles of the feet.
[ Webster]

basting n. 1. Loose temporary stitches.
Syn. -- baste, tacking.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. (Cookery) The act or process of moistening a roast as it is cooking.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bastion (băschŭn; 106), n. [F. bastion (cf. It. bastione), fr. LL. bastire to build (cf. F. bâtir, It. bastire), perh. from the idea of support for a weight, and akin to Gr. bastazein to lift, carry, and to E. baston, baton.] (Fort.) A work projecting outward from the main inclosure of a fortification, consisting of two faces and two flanks, and so constructed that it is able to defend by a flanking fire the adjacent curtain, or wall which extends from one bastion to another. Two adjacent bastions are connected by the curtain, which joins the flank of one with the adjacent flank of the other. The distance between the flanks of a bastion is called the gorge. A lunette is a detached bastion. See .
[ Webster]

Bastioned (�), a. Furnished with a bastion; having bastions.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z