baseline

American  

[beys-lahyn] / ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn /

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.

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adjective

1. basic or essential.

baseline British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of baseline

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

Example Sentences

January’s data will offer a baseline for home price trends this year before mortgage rates shot to monthslong highs and insight into the foundation supporting prices as mortgage rates climb.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The country's Central Bank has assessed a baseline scenario in which the war ends relatively soon and supply chains are restored.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

The fossils "provide a critical, missing baseline for New Zealand's natural history."

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

A SEP often moves markets the afternoon it’s released, and it sets a baseline against which investors judge subsequent policy decisions and statements from Fed officials.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He went baseline, faked a straight layup, and then hit the reverse.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• control
• criterion
• guideline
• measure
• standard