baseline

[beys-lahyn]

noun

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

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

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

4. a basic standard or level; guideline.

   to establish a baseline for future studies.

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

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

7. Surveying.,  triangulation1

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

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

adjective

1. basic or essential.

baseline

/ ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn /

noun

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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of baseline¹

First recorded in 1740–50; base ¹ + line ¹

Example Sentences

Fritz overpowered Alcaraz from the baseline, hitting 17 winners and five aces while also showing good hands at the net, winning 16 of his 20 net points.

From BBC

She dominated their baseline exchanges, utilised her athleticism and the full width of the court to construct multiple winners, and converted all three of her break points.

From BBC

It guided my mornings and set a baseline for every journey.

From Salon

Sinner dropped only two sets in his path to the New York final, clinically brushing aside opponents with his metronomic baseline game.

From BBC

Instead she forced a stifled smile as she turned towards her team, before walking back to the baseline for the next point.

From BBC

Related Words

• control 
• criterion 
• guideline 
• measure 
• standard