baseline

English
The baseline (red) in typography (3)
The baseline of a tennis court (4)

Etymology

base +‎ line

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbeɪslaɪn/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • Homophone: bassline

Noun

baseline (plural baselines)

  1. A line that is a base for measurement or for construction.
    A laser level generates a convenient baseline for interior work.
  2. A datum used as the basis for calculation or for comparison.
    We used the last doctor visit to provide baselines for vital statistics.
  3. (typography) A line used as the basis for the alignment of glyphs.
    Coordinate terms: beardline, midline, capline, topline
    Several characters typically have descenders below the lower baseline.
  4. (tennis) The line at the farthest ends of the court indicating the boundary of the area of play.
    The umpire missed the call. The ball hit the baseline.
  5. (engineering) A configuration of software, hardware, or a process that is established and documented as a point of reference.
    The baseline configuration includes unsupported components.

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

baseline (third-person singular simple present baselines, present participle baselining, simple past and past participle baselined)

  1. (engineering, computing) To provide a baseline for measurement.
    • 1993, M.M. Mitchell et al., “Residual Feed Cracking Catalysts”, in Magee & Mitchell, editors, Fluid Catalytic Cracking‎, →ISBN, page 320:
      Finally, the test was baselined by evaluating the best and poorest catalysts of their respective types by this protocol.
  2. (tennis) To play from the baseline.
    • 2002, Susan Orlean, The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup‎, →ISBN, page 260:
      By the time Maggie, who is eight years younger than Manuela, started playing, baselining was no longer enough to win points, so she learned to move around the court more …

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