basement

American  

[beys-muhnt] / ˈbeɪs mənt /

noun

1. a story of a building, partly or wholly underground.

2. (in classical and Renaissance architecture) the portion of a building beneath the principal story, treated as a single compositional unit.

3. the lowermost portion of a structure.

4. the substructure of a columnar or arched construction.

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basement British  

/ ˈbeɪsmənt /

noun

1. 1. a partly or wholly underground storey of a building, esp the one immediately below the main floor Compare cellar

   2. ( as modifier )

      a basement flat

2. the foundation or substructure of a wall or building

3. geology a part of the earth's crust formed of hard igneous or metamorphic rock that lies beneath the cover of soft sedimentary rock, sediment, and soil

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Etymology

Origin of basement

First recorded in 1720–30; base ¹ + -ment

Example Sentences

He also looks for managers who deliver higher returns on equity rather than shopping in the bargain basement for the biggest discounts.

From Barron's

Initial findings from the investigation suggest the fire at Le Constellation bar began as sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foam that lined the ceiling of the bar's basement, which was packed with people.

From BBC

After Brooklyn, the family moved to New Jersey, where Jean built a makeshift studio in his uncle’s basement.

From Los Angeles Times

We visited a few of them, hidden away in basements of wrecked buildings or nondescript village houses.

From BBC

Bullock, who co-founded Cann from his parents’ basement seven years ago, has been making the rounds in Washington, lobbying lawmakers for an extension.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cellar
• storage
• vault