base
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.the lowest part of something, which supports the rest.
n.the lowest or supporting part of a physical structure or object.
Simple“The lamp has a heavy metal base so it does not tip over.”
In context“The statue was mounted on a marble base to ensure stability and elevate it above the eye level of the museum visitors.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a place where a military group or an organization lives and works.
n.a center of operations or headquarters for a military or large organization.
Simple“The soldiers returned to the base after their training exercise.”
In context“The multinational corporation established its regional base in Singapore to oversee its expanding operations across Southeast Asia.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the main idea or fact that you use to start developing something else.
n.the fundamental principle or underlying concept from which a logical argument or system is developed.
Simple“We used the customer feedback as a base for our new design.”
In context“The researcher used the initial findings as a base for a more comprehensive study into urban migration patterns.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a substance that reacts with an acid to form a salt.
n.a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or more generally, donate a pair of valence electrons.
Simple“In the science experiment, we mixed a base with an acid.”
In context“The laboratory technician carefully measured the pH level to determine the strength of the base before proceeding with the titration.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.the number that is used as the starting point for a system of counting.
n.the number of distinct digits used in a positional number system, or the number raised to a power.
Simple“Computers use base two, which means they only use zeros and ones.”
In context“The binary system operates on a base of two, whereas the decimal system commonly used in daily life operates on a base of ten.”
Synonymsradix - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of people who always support a particular political party or brand.
n.a core group of loyal supporters or customers who provide consistent backing.
Simple“The politician gave a speech to energize his voter base.”
In context“The tech company focused its marketing efforts on its existing user base rather than trying to attract entirely new demographics.”
- 07 A2 Elementary
v.to use one thing as the starting point or reason for another.
v.to use a particular fact or situation as the foundation for an idea or action; usually passive.
Simple“The movie is based on a book I read last year.”
In context“The director decided to base the screenplay on a series of historical letters discovered in a private archive.”
UsageUsually used in the passive voice followed by 'on'.
PitfallThe movie is based in a true story. The movie is based on a true story.Use 'based on' for the source of an idea, and 'based in' for a physical location.
- 08 B1 Intermediate
v.to have your main office or home in a certain place.
v.to establish a headquarters or center of operations in a specific location.
Simple“The company is based in London, but they have offices everywhere.”
In context“Although the non-profit is based in Geneva, its field workers are active in over fifty countries across the globe.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice followed by 'in' or 'at'.
- 09 C1 Advanced
adj.not having good values; acting in a way that is not honest or brave.
adj.lacking higher values or ethics; dishonourable or cowardly in nature.
Simple“He was motivated by base desires like greed and jealousy.”
In context“The critic argued that the protagonist's actions were driven by base instincts rather than any sense of duty or altruism.”
Antonyms
Usage broad base · entirely base · exclusively base
From base (“short”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.