BASE means foundation, bottom, or starting point. As a verb, it means to establish or ground something. From military bases to baseball, this versatile word anchors many concepts.
Yes. BASE is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 6 points in Scrabble, 7 in Words With Friends and 7 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | B | A | S | E | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
BASE serves as one of English's most versatile words, functioning as noun, verb, and adjective. At its core, base means the bottom, foundation, or fundamental support of something—the part on which everything else rests or depends. This multifaceted word appears across diverse fields from architecture to chemistry. As a noun, base refers to foundations (base of a building), starting points (base of operations), or essential components (knowledge base). In chemistry, a base is a substance that neutralizes acids. In mathematics, it's the number system foundation (base 10). In baseball, it's the canvas squares runners must touch. Military bases serve as operational headquarters. Common meanings of base: Foundation: "Base of the mountain" - bottom part Starting point: "Base camp" - expedition origin Military: "Air base" - operations center Chemistry: "Basic solution" - pH above 7 Moral: "Base behavior" - low or despicable
The word base has dual etymological origins, creating its diverse meanings. The primary origin comes from Latin basis (foundation), borrowed from Greek βάσις (basis), meaning "step, pedestal, or foundation." This gave us the "foundation" meaning—anything that supports or underlies something else. The secondary origin, meaning "low or worthless," comes from Old French bas (low), from Late Latin bassus (short, low). This created the moral sense of "base" as despicable or without honor—base metals (non-precious), base motives (ignoble), or base behavior (contemptible). These two etymologies merged in Middle English, creating fascinating ambiguities. A "base person" could mean someone of low social standing (foundation/bottom of society) or someone morally corrupt (despicable). Context determines which meaning applies, though both suggest something fundamental yet potentially negative about position or character.
Anagrams: SABE
Hooks: front ABASE; back BASED, BASER, BASES.
Words inside BASE: 13 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: SABEABSBASBESSABABBABESAESEAAEAS. See all words from BASE.