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.
6. (Pharmacy) The chief ingredient in a compound.
7. (Dyeing) A substance used as a mordant. --Ure.
8. (Fort.) The exterior side of the polygon, or that
imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two
adjacent bastions.
9. (Geom.) The line or surface constituting that part of a
figure on which it is supposed to stand.
10. (Math.) The number from which a mathematical table is
constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
11. [See {Base} 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}.]
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
--Dryden.
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.
13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.]
14. (Zo["o]l.) That part of an organ by which it is attached
to another more central organ.
15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal.
16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not
distinctly crystalline.
17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See {Escutcheon}.
18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.]
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.]
20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.]
21. An apron. [Obs.] ``Bakers in their linen bases.''
--Marston.
22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting
place or a goal in various games.
To their appointed base they went. --Dryden.
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.
24. A rustic play; -- called also {prisoner's base}, {prison
base}, or {bars}. ``To run the country base.'' --Shak.
25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the
circuit of the infield.
{Altern base}. See under {Altern}.
{Attic base}. (Arch.) See under {Attic}.
{Base course}. (Arch.)
(a) The first or lower course of a foundation wall, made
of large stones of a mass of concrete; -- called also
{foundation course}.
(b) The architectural member forming the transition
between the basement and the wall above.
{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.
{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.
{Base plate}, the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of
the steam engine; the bed plate.
{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.