baseline

[ beys-lahyn ]

/ ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn /

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See synonyms for baseline on Thesaurus.com

noun Also base line .

Baseball. the area between bases within which a base runner must keep when running from one base to another.

Tennis. the line at each end of a tennis court, parallel to the net, that marks the in-bounds limit of play.

(in perspective drawing) a horizontal line in the immediate foreground formed by the intersection of the ground plane and the picture plane.

a basic standard or level; guideline: to establish a baseline for future studies.

a specific value or values that can serve as a comparison or control.

Typography. the imaginary line on which the bottoms of primary letters align.

Surveying. See under triangulation (def. 1).

Electronics. a horizontal or vertical line formed on the face of a cathode-ray tube by the sweep of the scanning dot.

Naval Architecture. a line on the body plan or sheer plan of a hull, representing a horizontal reference plane for vertical dimensions.

adjective

basic or essential.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.

Question 1 of 7

Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?

their

there

they're

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of baseline

First recorded in 1740–50; base¹ + line¹

Words nearby baseline

BASE jump, base jumping, Basel, baseless, base level, baseline, baseliner, Basel-Land, base load, Basel-Stadt, baseman

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for baseline

Only known hunters were enrolled, and owners first tallied up every bird, mammal or other critter their cats brought home for seven weeks, to establish a baseline for each cat.
Meatier meals and more playtime might reduce cats’ toll on wildlife|Jonathan Lambert|February 11, 2021|Science News
It was 10 minutes before I saw any art, but that gave me time to feel my heart pumping and to register certain baseline realities — for example, the world is three-dimensional.
Sculpture parks are a great way to see art during a pandemic. Here’s why some are better than others.|Sebastian Smee|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Once you’ve played a few rounds and have a stronger grasp on how your first choice of ball performs when putting, with powerful long drives, and on different terrain, you’ll have a baseline for comparison with pro models.
Beginner-friendly golf balls that will help you fall in love with the game|PopSci Commerce Team|February 5, 2021|Popular Science
Users fill out some brief fitness information on the web-based platform, outlining their goals and current baseline.
Health tech startup Bold raises $7 million in seed funding for senior-focused fitness programs|Sophie Burkholder|February 4, 2021|TechCrunch

Leg press, for example, ends up about 70 percent higher than baseline.
The Data Behind a Once-a-Week Strength Routine|Alex Hutchinson|February 2, 2021|Outside Online
“There is a baseline agreement when it comes to campus rape: the current system is failing these students,” she added.
Feminism Has Gone Too Far|Lizzie Crocker|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their borderline baseline distaste for a person they did not know had become a sport, and the off season was finally over.
Do We Still Hate Anne Hathaway?|Kevin Fallon|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A system to ensure that providers have a baseline competency in the areas where they choose to practice makes sense to me.
Rand Paul and the Certification Racket|Russell Saunders|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We can aim at an economy that makes dignity and security a baseline and lets people cut their paths from there.
We Need More Class Traitors: Solving America’s Meritocracy Problem|Jedediah Purdy|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Women have learned to operate with a baseline level of fear, one that dips or peaks depending on our surroundings.
Apps and Online Programs Offer New Ways to Report Street Harassment|Tessa Miller|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the 17th a baseline was laid down on the plateau, and Blake was able to commence his survey of the island.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
With two tracers, separated on a baseline of a few million kilometers, we can plot position closely.
Evil Out of Onzar|Mark Ganes
Anyway, he knocked it straight down the third baseline and fooled the Journals rivals, for their fielders were not on duty.
Joan of the Journal|Helen Diehl Olds
The crescent rests on a baseline formed by the slowly-proceeding line of women, children, and baggage-horses.
At Home with the Patagonians|George Chaworth Musters
Meanwhile his baseline had been extended twenty miles to the westto near Noyon.
New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol. 8, Pt. 2, No. 1, July 1918|Various

British Dictionary definitions for baseline

baseline

/ (ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn) /

noun

surveying a measured line through a survey area from which triangulations are made

an imaginary line, standard of value, etc, by which things are measured or compared

a line at each end of a tennis court that marks the limit of play

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for baseline

base line

n.

A line corresponding to the base of the skull, passing from the infraorbital ridge to the midline of the occiput, through the ear canal.

A line serving as a basis, as for measurement or calculation.

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WORD OF THE DAY

baseline

noun Also base line .

adjective

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Origin of baseline

Words nearby baseline

Example sentences from the Web for baseline

British Dictionary definitions for baseline

noun

Medical definitions for baseline

n.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

baseline

noun Also base line .

adjective

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Origin of baseline

Words nearby baseline

Words related to baseline

Example sentences from the Web for baseline

British Dictionary definitions for baseline

noun

Medical definitions for baseline

n.