basis
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the main reason or idea that something is built on.
the underlying support or justification for an idea, argument, or system.
Simple“The report provided a solid basis for the company's new strategy.”
In context“The scientific community accepted the hypothesis as a basis for further research into the long-term effects of climate change.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'for'.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
the way or how often something happens.
a regular pattern or frequency of occurrence.
Simple“We meet on a regular basis to discuss our progress.”
In context“The security software updates on a daily basis to protect the network against emerging digital threats.”
UsageTypically used in the construction 'on a [adjective] basis'.
PitfallI visit my parents on a weekly base. I visit my parents on a weekly basis.Use 'basis' when describing the frequency of an action in the phrase 'on a ... basis'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
the total amount of money spent on an investment, including fees.
the original value of an asset for tax purposes, usually the purchase price adjusted for commissions and other expenses.
Simple“You need to calculate your tax basis before selling the property.”
In context“The accountant adjusted the cost basis of the shares to account for the recent stock split and brokerage fees.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to tax and accounting contexts; general learners should focus on the 'foundation' meaning.
Synonymscost baseprincipal - 04 C2 Proficiency
a set of basic vectors used to describe a space in math.
a set of linearly independent vectors that span a given vector space.
Simple“The teacher explained how to find the basis of a three-dimensional space.”
In context“In linear algebra, any vector in the space can be represented as a unique linear combination of the basis elements.”
Usage empirical basis · establish basis · form basis
From Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις (básis), from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, derived from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- (whence also come). Doublet of base.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.