basis
[noun]
Synonyms: foundation, base, bottom, footing, ground, groundwork, support

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Related Words: axiom, fundamental, law, principle, theorem, assumption, postulate, premise, presumption, presupposition, essence, heart, call, justification, right, ground(s), reason

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English Thesaurus: basis, foundation, bedrock, cornerstone, reason, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ba‧sis S2 W1 /ˈbeɪsəs, ˈbeɪsɪs/ noun (plural bases /-siːz/) [countable]
[Word Family: noun: base, the basics, basis; adjective: baseless, basic, based; verb: base; adverb: basically]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, 'step, base', from bainein 'to go']

1. the facts, ideas, or things from which something can be developed:
Their claim had no basis in fact (=it was not true).
basis of
Bread forms the basis of their daily diet.
basis for
The video will provide a basis for class discussion.

2. on the basis of something because of a particular fact or situation:
discrimination on the basis of sex

3. on a regular/daily/weekly etc basis every day, week etc:
I’m saving money on a regular basis.

4. on a voluntary/part-time/temporary etc basis a system or agreement by which someone or something is voluntary etc:
Nurses are employed on a full-time basis.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

basis
noun
I. starting point
ADJ. firm, solid, sound
VERB + BASIS form, provide
PREP. ~ for The proposal provides a sound basis for a book.
PHRASES have no basis in sth These allegations have no basis in fact.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

basis
II. principle/reason
ADJ. whole
PREP. on the ~ of We made our decision on the basis of the information we had.
~ for The whole basis for your argument is false.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

basis
III. way sth is done/organized
ADJ. regular | daily, monthly, weekly, etc. Staff are employed on a monthly basis.
permanent, temporary | casual, part-time, voluntary | commercial
PREP. on a … ~

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

basis

form the basis of something
This research will form the basis of a book.
provide a basis for something
The poem provided the basis for an interesting class discussion.
become the basis of/for something
Some of these ideas became the basis for the Parents’ Educational Union.
serve as a basis for something
The document will serve as a basis for negotiations.
establish a basis (also lay a basis) (=create something from which something can be developed)
The agreement established a sound basis for international commerce.
have a basis
Our constitution has a democratic basis.
have no basis in fact (=be not true)
Many of these rumours have no basis in fact.
a good basis
Love and trust form a good basis for marriage.
a sound/firm/solid basis
Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

basis
noun
BAD: The course is for students with a basis knowledge of English.
GOOD: The course is for students with a basic knowledge of English.

Usage Note:
See note at BASE 1 (base)
Basic is an adjective: 'basic computer skills', 'basic principles'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

basis the facts, ideas, things etc from which something can be developed:
His work will be used as a basis for future research.
foundation the thing on which something is based, especially something important that continues for a long time:
Their ideas were the foundation for the political system that exists in the UK today.
How can we provide a solid foundation for world peace?
bedrock the most important thing that something depends on in order to be successful:
Honesty is the bedrock of any healthy relationship.
Labour’s traditional bedrock of support is among the working classes.
cornerstone the most important thing that something depends on in order to be successful, especially in business and politics:
Confidence is the cornerstone of our business.
NATO remains a cornerstone of defence policy for Europe.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

reason why something happens, or why someone does something:
What was the reason for the delay?
I don’t know the reason why he left his last job.
explanation a set of reasons that helps you to understand why something happens, especially when it seems difficult to understand:
There are various possible explanations for climate change.
Is there any explanation for his behavior?
motive a reason that makes someone decide to do something – often used about crimes:
Police say that there is no obvious motive for the attack.
justification a good reason for doing something that seems wrong:
There is never any justification for torture or abuse.
They try to use the situation in the Middle East as a justification for killing innocent civilians.
There’s no justification for this type of behaviour.
grounds a reason that makes it right or fair to do something, especially according to legal, official, or moral rules:
The court will decide if she has grounds for divorce.
They claim the war is justified on moral grounds (=because of moral reasons).
basis the main ideas or reasons on which something is based:
The doctor makes his decisions purely on the basis of clinical observation.
What do you think is the basis for this advice?
rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːl $ -ˈnæl/ formal a set of reasons that are used to explain why someone does something in a particular way:
the rationale behind the government’s economic reforms
This chapter explains the nature of yearly plans, and provides a rationale for their use.
excuse a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or not done something that you should have done – especially one that is not completely true:
She said she couldn’t come because she had to work late, but it was just an excuse.
a feeble excuse (=one that is hard to believe)
pretext especially written an untrue reason that you give for doing or not doing something, in order to hide the real reason:
He would often find some pretext to go out in the evening alone.
They used this as a pretext for taking military action.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲