The bottom part of something that supports the rest, or the main place where an activity or organization operates from. In chemistry, it is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or produce hydroxide ions in solution.
It comes from Old French “bas,” meaning low, from Late Latin “bassus,” meaning thick or low. The idea of lowness extended to mean foundation or starting point.
So many meanings of “base”—from a base camp to a base in baseball to base pairs in DNA—share the idea of a starting point or support. Even chemically, a base is a partner in reactions, helping build new substances from the ground up.
'Base' appears in compounds like 'military base' and 'home base,' which have been structured around gendered assumptions about soldiers, workers, and caregivers. In chemistry and math, the term is neutral, but in social contexts 'base' can reflect who is treated as the default or foundation, often historically male.
Use 'base' neutrally in technical contexts, and in social or institutional contexts avoid implying that one gender is the natural 'base' or default group. When talking about 'bases' like workplaces or homes, recognize varied gender roles.
["foundation","starting point","center"]
Women have sustained and managed many kinds of 'bases'—from military family support networks to community centers—while formal recognition often focused on male roles.
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