1. In linguistics and morphology:
* Root word: This is the core of a word, the fundamental meaning. It's the part that remains after all prefixes and suffixes are removed.
* Example: "un-happy-ness" - "happy" is the base word.
* Stem: This is a slightly broader term that encompasses both the root word and any prefixes or suffixes that are directly attached to it.
* Example: "un-happy" - "happy" is the root word, but "unhappy" is the stem.
2. In mathematics:
* Base: This refers to the number of unique digits used in a numeral system. For example, the decimal system (base-10) uses 10 digits (0-9), while the binary system (base-2) uses only 2 digits (0 and 1).
3. In general usage:
* Base word: This can simply refer to the most common or essential word used to describe something. It can also refer to a word that serves as the basis for a series of related words.
* Example: "Animal" could be considered a base word for "dog," "cat," "bird," etc.
To understand the meaning of "base word," it's important to consider the context in which it is used. If you can provide more information about the specific situation, I can give you a more precise answer.