A flat, supporting plate or foundation that forms the bottom part of a structure or machine, holding everything else in place.
From 'base' (Latin 'basis,' foundation) + 'plate' (Old French 'plat,' flat). Emerged in 19th-century engineering to describe the metal or wood foundation of industrial equipment.
Baseplates are the unsung heroes of engineering—baseball stadiums have them under their seats, skyscrapers have them anchoring steel beams, and they're one reason buildings don't topple over in the slightest breeze.
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