first base

noun

Baseball.

the first in counterclockwise order of the bases from home plate.
the position of the player covering the area of the infield near first base.

Idioms

get to first base, Informal.

to succeed in the initial phase of a plan or undertaking: His suggestions for labor-saving techniques never got to first base.
to engage in petting that goes no further than kissing.

Origin of first base

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for first base

Historical Examples of first base

Andy did take his time, and as a result got four balls and walked to first-base.
The Putnam Hall Rivals
Arthur M. Winfield
On the first pitch, as Dreer got a fast start for second, Hollis bunted down the first-base line.
The Young Pitcher
Zane Grey
Way bunted down the first-base line, and managed to beat out the throw.
The Lucky Seventh
Ralph Henry Barbour
The ball bounded off the tip end of the bat and went whirling along the first-base line.
The Crimson Sweater
Ralph Henry Barbour
He is entitled to first-base if the pitcher pitches four bad balls, at none of which he (the batsman) has struck.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for first base

first base

noun

baseball

the base that a runner must reach safely to score a hit, and the first of the three bases he must reach safely on the way to home plate in order to score a run
the fielding position nearest this base

get to first base informal, mainly US and Canadian to accomplish the first step of an undertaking

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