Base vs. Bottom: What's the Difference?
By Harlon Moss & Janet White || Updated on May 29, 2024
Base refers to the foundation or starting point of an object or idea, while bottom denotes the lowest part or the underside of something.
Key Differences
Base refers to the fundamental part or the support on which something rests or is built. In contrast, bottom indicates the lowest or deepest part of an object or surface. For instance, the base of a statue provides stability, whereas the bottom of a cup is its lowest interior surface.
Base can also imply the main ingredient in a mixture or a starting point in a process. Conversely, bottom often suggests the end point or lowest position in a hierarchy or sequence. For example, the base ingredient in a sauce is its primary component, while the bottom rung of a ladder is the last step.
In geometric terms, base refers to the side of a polygon or the face of a three-dimensional object on which it stands. On the other hand, bottom in geometry typically describes the lowest face or surface of an object. For instance, a pyramid’s base is its flat, bottom-most side, while the bottom of a cone is its circular flat end.
Base is frequently used in scientific contexts to describe fundamental concepts or elements, such as in chemistry where it refers to substances that can accept hydrogen ions. Conversely, bottom is commonly used in everyday contexts to describe positions or levels, such as the bottom drawer in a cabinet.
Comparison Chart
General Meaning
Foundation or starting point
Lowest part or underside
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Contextual Usage
Often foundational or supportive
Typically lowest or final
Geometric Terms
Side or face on which an object stands
Lowest face or surface of an object
Scientific Context
Fundamental concepts or elements
End positions or lowest levels
Everyday Context
Core or main ingredient
Lowest position in a hierarchy or sequence
Base and Bottom Definitions
Base
A substance that accepts hydrogen ions.
In chemistry, a base reacts with an acid to form salt and water.
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Bottom
The underside or lowest surface.
Check the bottom of the pan for any residue.
Base
The lowest or bottom part
The base of a cliff.
The base of a lamp.
Bottom
The end point in a hierarchy.
He started at the bottom of the company and worked his way up.
Base
The part of a plant or animal organ that is nearest to its point of attachment.
Bottom
The lowest part in a container.
There was a small amount of liquid left at the bottom of the bottle.
Base
The point of attachment of such an organ.
Bottom
The deepest or lowest part
The bottom of a well.
The bottom of the page.
Base
A supporting part or layer; a foundation
A skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
Bottom
The part closest to a reference point
Was positioned at the bottom of the key for a rebound.
Base
A basic or underlying element; infrastructure
The nation's industrial base.
Bottom
The underside
Scraped the bottom of the car on a rock.
Base
The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis.
Bottom
The supporting part; the base.
Base
A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent
A paint with an oil base.
Bottom
The far end or part
At the bottom of the bed.
Base
The fact, observation, or premise from which a reasoning process is begun.
Bottom
The last place, as on a list.
Base
(Games) A starting point, safety area, or goal.
Bottom
The lowest or least favorable position
Started at the bottom of the corporate hierarchy.
Base
(Baseball) Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
Bottom
The basic underlying quality; the source
Let's get to the bottom of the problem.
Base
A center of organization, supply, or activity; a headquarters.
Bottom
The solid surface under a body of water.
Base
The portion of a social organization, especially a political party, consisting of the most dedicated or motivated members.
Bottom
Often bottoms Low-lying alluvial land adjacent to a river. Also called bottomland.
Base
A fortified center of operations.
Bottom
(Nautical) The part of a ship's hull below the water line.
Base
A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
Bottom
A ship; a boat
"English merchants did much of their overseas trade in foreign bottoms" (G.M. Trevelyan).
Base
A facial cosmetic used to even out the complexion or provide a surface for other makeup; a foundation.
Bottom
Often bottoms The trousers or short pants of pajamas.
Base
(Architecture) The lowest part of a structure, such as a wall, considered as a separate unit
The base of a column.
Bottom
(Informal) The buttocks.
Base
(Heraldry) The lower part of a shield.
Bottom
The seat of a chair.
Base
(Linguistics) A morpheme or morphemes regarded as a form to which affixes or other bases may be added.
Bottom
(Baseball) The second or last half of an inning.
Base
The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
Bottom
Staying power; stamina. Used of a horse.
Base
The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
Bottom
(Slang) One who is penetrated by another person or is the submissive partner in a sexual encounter or relationship.
Base
The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
Bottom
Situated at the bottom
The bottom rung of the ladder.
Base
A line used as a reference for measurement or computations.
Bottom
Of the lowest degree, quality, rank, or amount
The bottom three teams in the league.
Base
Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
Bottom
To provide with an underside.
Base
A substance that yields hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
Bottom
To provide with a foundation; base
Jurisprudence that is bottomed on democratic principles.
Base
A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
Bottom
To have or strike the underside against something
The car bottomed on the gravel.
Base
A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
Bottom
The lowest part of anything.
Footers appear at the bottoms of pages.
Base
The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
Bottom
A garment worn to cover the body below the torso.
There's a hole in her pyjama bottoms.
Base
The electrode attached to this region.
Bottom
Spirits poured into a glass before adding soda water.
A soda and a bottom of brandy
Base
One of the nitrogen-containing purines (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) that occurs attached to the sugar component of DNA or RNA.
Bottom
The far end of somewhere.
There’s a fairy at the bottom of my garden.
I walked to the bottom of the street.
Base
A bass singer or voice.
Bottom
Character, reliability, staying power, dignity, integrity or sound judgment.
Lack bottom
Base
Forming or serving as a base
A base layer of soil.
Bottom
Power of endurance.
Base
Situated at or near the base or bottom
A base camp for the mountain climbers.
Bottom
The base; the fundamental part; basic aspect.
Base
(Chemistry) Of, relating to, or containing a base.
Bottom
Low-lying land; a valley or hollow.
Where shall we go for a walk? How about Ashcombe Bottom?
Base
Having or showing a lack of decency; contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish.
Bottom
(usually: bottoms or bottomland) Low-lying land near a river with alluvial soil.
Base
Being a metal that is of little value.
Bottom
(euphemism) The buttocks or anus.
Base
Containing such metals
Base coins.
Bottom
The lowest part of a container.
Base
(Archaic) Of low birth, rank, or position.
Bottom
The bed of a body of water, as of a river, lake, or sea.
Base
(Obsolete) Short in stature.
Bottom
An abyss.
Base
To form or provide a base for
Based the new company in Portland.
Bottom
(nautical) A cargo vessel, a ship.
Base
To find a basis for; establish
Based her conclusions on the report.
A film based on a best-selling novel.
Bottom
(nautical) Certain parts of a vessel, particularly the cargo hold or the portion of the ship that is always underwater.
Base
To assign to a base; station
Troops based in the Middle East.
Bottom
(baseball) The second half of an inning, the home team's turn at bat.
Base
Something from which other things extend; a foundation.
Bottom
(BDSM) A submissive in sadomasochistic sexual activity.
Base
A supporting, lower or bottom component of a structure or object.
Bottom
(gay slang) A man who prefers the receptive role in anal sex with men.
James and Lukas would make a great couple if they weren't both bottoms.
Base
The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis.
Bottom
(particle physics) bottom quark.
Base
A permanent structure for housing military personnel and material.
Bottom
A ball or skein of thread; a cocoon.
Base
The place where decisions for an organization are made; headquarters.
Bottom
(obsolete) Dregs or grounds; lees; sediment.
Base
A basic but essential component or ingredient.
Bottom
(transitive) To furnish (something) with a bottom.
To bottom a chair
Base
A substance used as a mordant in dyeing.
Bottom
(transitive) To pour spirits into (a glass to be topped up with soda water).
Base
(cosmetics) Foundation: a cosmetic cream to make the face appear uniform.
Bottom
(obsolete) To wind (like a ball of thread etc.).
Base
(chemistry) Any of a class of generally water-soluble compounds, having bitter taste, that turn red litmus blue, and react with acids to form salts.
Bottom
(transitive) To establish or found (something) on or upon.
Base
Important areas in games and sports.
Bottom
To lie on the bottom of; to underlie, to lie beneath.
Base
A safe zone in the children's games of tag and hide-and-go-seek.
Bottom
To be based or grounded.
Base
(baseball) One of the four places that a runner can stand without being subject to being tagged out when the ball is in play.
Bottom
To reach or strike against the bottom of something, so as to impede free action.
Base
(architecture) The lowermost part of a column, between the shaft and the pedestal or pavement.
Bottom
(transitive) To reach the bottom of something.
Base
A nucleotide's nucleobase in the context of a DNA or RNA biopolymer.
Bottom
To fall to the lowest point.
Base
(botany) The end of a leaf, petal or similar organ where it is attached to its support.
Bottom
To be the submissive partner in a BDSM relationship.
Base
(electronics) The name of the controlling terminal of a bipolar transistor (BJT).
Bottom
To be anally penetrated in gay sex.
The only time I ever bottomed' in my life, my sphincter was pierced.
Base
(geometry) The lowest side of a triangle or other polygon, or the lowest face of a cone, pyramid or other polyhedron laid flat.
Bottom
The lowest or last place or position.
Those files should go on the bottom shelf.
Base
(heraldry) The lowest third of a shield or escutcheon.
Bottom
(transgender) Relating to the genitals.
Bottom dysphoria
Bottom surgery
Base
(heraldry) The lower part of the field. See escutcheon.
Bottom
The lowest part of anything; the foot; as, the bottom of a tree or well; the bottom of a hill, a lane, or a page.
Or dive into the bottom of the deep.
Base
(mathematics) A number raised to the power of an exponent.
The logarithm to base 2 of 8 is 3.
Bottom
The part of anything which is beneath the contents and supports them, as the part of a chair on which a person sits, the circular base or lower head of a cask or tub, or the plank floor of a ship's hold; the under surface.
Barrels with the bottom knocked out.
No two chairs were alike; such high backs and low backs and leather bottoms and worsted bottoms.
Base
(mathematics) radix.
Bottom
That upon which anything rests or is founded, in a literal or a figurative sense; foundation; groundwork.
Base
(topology) The set of sets from which a topology is generated.
Bottom
The bed of a body of water, as of a river, lake, sea.
Base
(topology) A topological space, looked at in relation to one of its covering spaces, fibrations, or bundles.
Bottom
The fundament; the buttocks.
Base
(group theory) A sequence of elements not jointly stabilized by any nontrivial group element.
Bottom
An abyss.
Base
In hand-to-hand balance, the person who supports the flyer; the person that remains in contact with the ground.
Bottom
Low land formed by alluvial deposits along a river; low-lying ground; a dale; a valley.
Base
(linguistics) A morpheme (or morphemes) that serves as a basic foundation on which affixes can be attached.
Bottom
The part of a ship which is ordinarily under water; hence, the vessel itself; a ship.
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted.
Not to sell the teas, but to return them to London in thesame bottoms in which they were shipped.
Base
(music) bass
Bottom
Power of endurance; as, a horse of a good bottom.
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Bottom
Dregs or grounds; lees; sediment.
He was at the bottom of many excellent counsels.
Base
(archaic) The housing of a horse.
Bottom
A ball or skein of thread; a cocoon.
Silkworms finish their bottoms in . . . fifteen days.
Base
A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mail or other armour) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
Bottom
Of or pertaining to the bottom; fundamental; lowest; under; as, bottom rock; the bottom board of a wagon box; bottom prices.
Base
(obsolete) The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Bottom
To found or build upon; to fix upon as a support; - followed by on or upon.
Action is supposed to be bottomed upon principle.
Those false and deceiving grounds upon which many bottom their eternal state].
Base
(obsolete) An apron.
Bottom
To furnish with a bottom; as, to bottom a chair.
Base
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.
Bottom
To reach or get to the bottom of.
Base
(politics) A group of voters who almost always support a single party's candidates for elected office.
Bottom
To rest, as upon an ultimate support; to be based or grounded; - usually with on or upon.
Find on what foundation any proposition bottoms.
Base
(Marxism) The forces and relations of production that produce the necessities and amenities of life.
Bottom
To reach or impinge against the bottom, so as to impede free action, as when the point of a cog strikes the bottom of a space between two other cogs, or a piston the end of a cylinder.
Base
A material that holds paint or other materials together; a binder.
Bottom
To wind round something, as in making a ball of thread.
As you unwind her love from him,Lest it should ravel and be good to none,You must provide to bottom it on me.
Base
(aviation) base leg
Bottom
The lower side of anything
Base
(slang) freebase cocaine
Bottom
The lowest part of anything;
They started at the bottom of the hill
Base
The game of prisoners' bars.
Bottom
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Base
Alternative form of BASE
Bottom
The second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat
Base
(transitive) To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of.
Bottom
A depression forming the ground under a body of water;
He searched for treasure on the ocean bed
Base
(transitive) To be located (at a particular place).
Bottom
Low-lying alluvial land near a river
Base
To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer.
Bottom
A cargo ship;
They did much of their overseas trade in foreign bottoms
Base
(slang) To freebase.
Bottom
Provide with a bottom or a seat;
Bottom the chairs
Base
(obsolete) Low in height; short.
Bottom
Strike the ground, as with a ship's bottom
Base
Low in place or position.
Bottom
Come to understand
Base
(obsolete) Of low value or degree.
Bottom
Situated at the bottom or lowest position;
The bottom drawer
The top shelf
Base
(archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.
Bottom
At the bottom; lowest or last;
The bottom price
Base
Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
Bottom
The lowest rank;
Bottom member of the class
Base
Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.
Bottom
The lowest part of something.
The bottom of the well was filled with water.
Base
(of a metal) Not considered precious or noble.
Bottom
The base level in a sequence or scale.
The bottom of the chart shows the least popular choices.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased.
Base coin
Base bullion
Base
(obsolete) Of illegitimate birth; bastard.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Obsolete form of bass
The base tone of a violin
Base
(legal) Not held by honourable service.
A base estate is one held by services not honourable, or held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant is a base tenant.
Base
Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.
Base
Low in place or position.
Base
Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean.
Base
Illegitimate by birth; bastard.
Why bastard? wherefore base?
Base
Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.
Base
Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin.
Base
Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant.
Base
The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue.
Base
Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.
Base
The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.
Base
That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.
Base
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.
Base
The chief ingredient in a compound.
Base
A substance used as a mordant.
Base
The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.
Base
The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.
Base
The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
Base
A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
Base
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.
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Base
That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.
Base
The basal plane of a crystal.
Base
The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.
Base
The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
Base
The housing of a horse.
Base
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.
Base
The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Base
An apron.
Base
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.
Base
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.
Base
A rustic play; - called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars.
Base
Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.
Base
To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; - used with on or upon.
Base
To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower.
If any . . . based his pike.
Base
To reduce the value of; to debase.
Metals which we can not base.
Base
Any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water;
Bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
Base
Installation from which a military force initiates operations;
The attack wiped out our forward bases
Base
Lowest support of a structure;
It was built on a base of solid rock
He stood at the foot of the tower
Base
Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag
Base
(numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place;
10 is the radix of the decimal system
Base
The bottom or lowest part;
The base of the mountain
Base
(anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment;
The base of the skull
Base
A lower limit;
The government established a wage floor
Base
The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained;
The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
Base
A support or foundation;
The base of the lamp
Base
The bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed;
The base of the triangle
Base
The most important or necessary part of something;
The basis of this drink is orange juice
Base
The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
Base
An intensely anti-western terrorist network that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist group; has cells in more than 50 countries
Base
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed;
Thematic vowels are part of the stem
Base
The stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area;
The industrial base of Japan
Base
The principal ingredient of a mixture;
Glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
He told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
Everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
Base
A flat bottom on which something is intended to sit;
A tub should sit on its own base
Base
(electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
Base
Use as a basis for; found on;
Base a claim on some observation
Base
Use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
Base
Assign to a station
Base
Serving as or forming a base;
The painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
Base
(used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal;
Base coins of aluminum
A base metal
Base
Of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense);
Baseborn wretches with dirty faces
Of humble (or lowly) birth
Base
Not adhering to ethical or moral principles;
Base and unpatriotic motives
A base, degrading way of life
Cheating is dishonorable
They considered colonialism immoral
Unethical practices in handling public funds
Base
Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality;
That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
Taking a mean advantage
Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
Base
Illegitimate
Base
Debased; not genuine;
An attempt to eliminate the base coinage
Base
The foundation on which something stands.
The base of the statue was made of marble.
Base
The main ingredient in a mixture.
The base for the soup is chicken broth.
Base
The starting point for a process or action.
The base of our strategy is thorough market research.
Base
The lower part of an object.
The base of the mountain is surrounded by lush forests.
FAQs
What does "base" mean?
Base refers to the foundation or starting point of an object or concept.
Is "bottom" used in geometry?
Yes, "bottom" describes the lowest face or surface of an object in geometry.
How is "base" used in everyday language?
Base is used to describe core or main ingredients and foundational aspects.
Can "base" be used in a scientific context?
Yes, "base" is often used to describe fundamental elements, such as in chemistry.
What does "bottom" mean?
Bottom denotes the lowest part or underside of something.
How is "bottom" used in everyday language?
Bottom is used to describe the lowest position in a hierarchy or the lowest part of an object.
Does "base" imply a starting point?
Yes, "base" often implies a starting point or foundation.
Can "bottom" describe a position in a sequence?
Yes, "bottom" can describe the last or lowest position in a sequence.
Does "bottom" imply an ending point?
Yes, "bottom" often implies the lowest or final position.
Can "base" refer to a part of a mountain?
Yes, the base of a mountain is its lower part.
Can "bottom" refer to part of a container?
Yes, the bottom of a container is its lowest interior surface.
Does "base" have geometric significance?
Yes, in geometry, "base" refers to the side or face an object stands on.
Is "bottom" used in nautical terms?
Yes, the bottom of a ship refers to its lowest part.
Is "base" used in strategic contexts?
Yes, "base" can refer to the foundational strategy or starting point in planning.
Is "bottom" used in financial contexts?
Yes, "bottom" can refer to the lowest point in financial performance.
Is "base" used in cooking?
Yes, "base" can describe the main ingredient in a recipe.
Can "base" be a verb?
Yes, "base" can also mean to establish or lay the foundation for something.
Can "bottom" be a verb?
Yes, "bottom" can mean to reach the lowest point, often used in financial contexts.
Does "bottom" have geometric significance?
Yes, "bottom" refers to the lowest face or surface in geometry.
What is a base in chemistry?
In chemistry, a base is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions.
About Author
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Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
