make first base Definition

base¹
noun

1. The lowest part or bottom; the part which supports something or on which something stands.

Thesaurus: foundation, groundwork, bed, pedestal, substructure, support, underpinning, infrastructure, root, footing.
2. The origin, root or foundation of something.

Thesaurus: basis, principle, source, heart, core, authority, origin, root, foundation.
3. The headquarters or centre of activity or operations.

Thesaurus: headquarters, camp, station, terminal, garrison, billet, centre, depot, dock, harbour, anchorage, site.
4. A starting point.
5. The main part of a mixture.

Example: Rice is the base of this dish
6. chem.
Any of a group of chemical compounds that can neutralize an acid to form a salt and water.
7. baseball.
Any one of four fixed points on the pitch which players run between.
8. math.
In a numerical system: the number of different symbols used, eg in the binary number system the base is two, because only the symbols 0 and 1 are used.
9. math.
In logarithms: the number that, when raised to a certain power (see power noun 12), has a logarithm equal in value to that power.
10. geom.
The line or surface, usually horizontal, on which a geometric figure rests.

verb

based, basing
1. To make or form a base for something or someone.

Idiom: get to first base (make first base)

See under first.

Idiom: off base

(S)
colloq
Wrong; mistaken.

Etymology: 14c: French, from Latin basis pedestal.

Phrasal Verb: base someone or something in or at somewhere

To post or place them, or give it a headquarters or centre of operations, in or at a specified place.

Phrasal Verb: base something on something

To use it as the basis for something; to found or establish (an argument, etc) on it.

Phrasal Verb: base out

Said of prices, etc: to bottom out.

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first
adj

1. In counting: before all others; before the second and following ones.
2. Earliest in time or order; the starting object of a series of objects.

Thesaurus: initial, original, leading, head, opening, introductory.
3a. The first day of the month;

Form: the first
3b. golf.
The first hole.
Form: the first
4. The most important; foremost in importance.

Example: first prize
Thesaurus: uppermost, primary, principal, paramount, highest.
5. Basic; fundamental.

Example: first principles
6a. music.
Having the higher part;
Example: the first violins
6b. music.
Being the principal player.
Example: the first clarinet

adverb

1. Before anything or anyone else.

Thesaurus: in the beginning, at the outset, early on, to start with, to begin with, before all else, originally, beforehand, initially.
2. Foremost.

Example: got in feet first
3. Before doing anything else.

Example: first make sure of the facts
4. For the first time.

Example: since he first saw him
5. Preferably; rather.

Example: I'd die first
6. Firstly.

noun

1. A person or thing coming first, eg in a race or exam.
2. colloq
A first occurrence of something; something never done before
Example: That's a first for me!
3. The beginning; the start.

Example: from first to last
4. Denoting the first or lowest forward gear (sense 2) in a motor vehicle.

Example: She changed from first to second
(chiefly Brit)
5. education.
First-class honours in a university degree; a degree of the highest class.
Form: a first

Idiom: at first

At the start of something; early on in the course of something.

Idiom: at first hand

Directly from the original source.
Example: to obtain information at first hand

Idiom: first and last

Essentially; on the whole.

Idiom: first come, first served

Those who respond before others to an offer have priority over them.

Idiom: first thing

colloq
Early; before anything else; as the first action of the day.
Example: I'll do it first thing in the morning

Idiom: first things first

An expression suggesting that one should organize oneself by doing the most important things before other things.

Idiom: get to first base (make first base)

To complete the first stage of a process.

Idiom: in the first place

From the start; to begin with.
Example: He didn't want to go in the first place

Idiom: not have the first idea about something (not know the first thing about something)

colloq
To be completely ignorant about it; to know nothing about it.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon fyrest.