Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: MILITARY

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin basis; BASIS

base

2 noun
     
base2 S2 W2
1

lowest part

[countable usually singular]
a) the lowest part or surface of something [= bottom]
base of
There is a door at the base of the tower.
the base of a triangle
a frozen dessert with a biscuit base
a wine glass with a heavy base
The leather of his left trainer was coming away from its rubber base.
b) the lowest point on a plant or part of your body, where it joins another part [= bottom]
base of
a hole in the base of the tree
He was killed by an axe blow to the base of his skull.
2

knowledge/ideas

[countable] the most important part of something, from which new ideas develop [= foundation]:
India has a good scientific research base.
base for
They were laying the base for a new economic recovery.
3

military

[countable]PM a place where people in a military organization live and work
4

company/organization

[uncountable and countable] the main place from which a person, company, or organization controls their activities
base for
He used the house as a base for his printing business.
5

people/groups

[countable usually singular] the people, money, groups etc that form the main part of something:
The company has built up a loyal customer base.
By broadening the tax base (=all the people who pay taxes), he could raise more revenues.
an attempt to strengthen the city's economic base (=things that produce jobs and money)
The country's manufacturing base (=all the factories, companies etc that produce goods in a country) has shrunk by 20%.
 ➔ power base
6

substance/mixture

[singular, uncountable] the main part of a substance, meal etc to which other things are added:
paint with an oil base
base for
Vodka is the base for many cocktails.
7

sport

[countable]DSB one of the four places that a player must touch in order to get a point in games such as baseball
8

be off base

American English informal to be completely wrong:
His estimate for painting the kitchen seems way off base.
9

chemical

[countable]HCC technical a chemical substance that combines with an acid to form a salt
10

numbers

[countable usually singular]HM technical the number in relation to which a number system or mathematical table is built up, for example 10 in the decimal system
11

touch base (with somebody)

to talk to someone to find out what is happening about something
—basal adjective

➔ cover (all) the bases

at cover1 (12)
Definition of base from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic MILITARY

Explore MILITARY Topic

array base battle(n) battle(v) capability captain capture carrier citation C.O. command(n) command(v) commander commission Corp. corps cross enemy engage engagement exchange field flash fort front HQ installation intelligence line Maj. major man march(v) march(n) mess(n) mess(v) military mission MP NATO objective occupation offensive(a) offensive(n) officer operation padre parade password post push PX quarter raid(n) raid(v) rank recruit(v) recruit(n) review(n) review(v) salute(v) salute(n) shell star station(n) station(v) strategic strategy target(n) target(v) theatre volunteer(n) volunteer(v)

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