Basis Meaning
Basis Definition & Usage
The underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process.
Examples
- "The study of genetics forms the basis for many modern medical treatments."
- "Her argument lacked a strong basis, making it easy to refute."
- "The team worked on the basis of a well-established theory."
- "His actions were grounded on the basis of his previous experiences."
- "The new law is built on the basis of public health concerns."
The set of vectors in a vector space that can be used to express every element of the space as a linear combination of those vectors.
Examples
- "In linear algebra, a basis is a set of linearly independent vectors that span the vector space."
- "The concept of a basis is essential for understanding vector spaces in mathematics."
- "To solve this system of equations, you need to know the basis of the solution space."
- "A basis for R^3 consists of three linearly independent vectors."
- "Understanding the basis of a matrix helps in finding its rank."
The fundamental reason or justification for doing something.
Examples
- "We decided on a new pricing strategy on the basis of customer feedback."
- "On what basis do you say that the project will succeed?"
- "The decision was made on the basis of financial forecasts."
- "She was hired on the basis of her previous experience."
- "On the basis of his performance, he was given a promotion."
Cultural Context
The word 'basis' comes from the Latin word 'basis', which means a foundation or support. In modern English, it has evolved to cover a variety of contexts, from everyday usage to specialized meanings in fields like mathematics, philosophy, and law.
The Foundation of an Idea
Story
The Foundation of an Idea
It was a late autumn evening when Emma stood in front of her classroom, preparing for her lecture on the philosophical underpinnings of moral decisions. Her students were eager, their notebooks open, but there was one question that lingered on Emma’s mind: What was the basis of morality? As she gathered her thoughts, Emma recalled the words of her mentor, Professor Harris, who had always said, 'The basis of any strong argument is its foundation in reason.' She turned to the whiteboard, writing down the phrase: 'The Basis of Moral Philosophy.' 'What is the basis of our ethical decisions?' she asked, looking over her class. 'Is it cultural norms? Religious teachings? Or perhaps something more universal?' The students began discussing. One student, John, raised his hand. 'It’s like when you build a house. You can’t just start with the walls or the roof; you need a strong foundation.' Emma smiled. 'Exactly. The basis is the foundation. Without a clear basis, we’re simply building on unstable ground.' As the discussion unfolded, Emma couldn’t help but think of the broader implications of the word 'basis'. It wasn’t just a philosophical term—it was the groundwork for so many aspects of life, from mathematical proofs to personal decisions. She even thought about how, in her own research, the basis of any argument she made had to be clear and justifiable. 'Let’s think about this in practical terms,' she continued. 'On what basis do you think we can make ethical decisions in modern society? On the basis of reason, law, or something more?' By the end of the class, Emma felt proud. She had used the word 'basis' in many ways that day, from moral philosophy to the basic structure of academic argumentation. But most importantly, she had shown her students that every strong idea, whether in ethics, science, or even everyday life, must have a solid basis—a foundation they can trust. As she gathered her papers to leave, Emma reflected on the day’s lesson. The basis of her teaching was not just about knowledge, but about helping students build their own foundation for understanding the world around them.
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