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# baseline

noun (a baseline, baselines)

«baseline» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A starting measurement that you use to compare later results with. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#m1)
2. In tennis and some other sports, the line at the back of each end of the court. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#m2)
3. A basic line or level, such as the lowest acceptable standard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science experiments, the baseline is what you measure before you change anything, so you can see how much changed. In school tests, a «baseline test» shows what a pupil knows at the start of the year. In tennis lessons, players serve from behind the baseline.

### Examples

- We measured the plant's height as a baseline before adding fertiliser. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x1)
- The baseline test showed what we knew in September. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x2)
- My resting heart rate is my baseline before running. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x3)
- She hit the ball right on the baseline. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x4)
- Stand behind the baseline to serve. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x5)
- Compared with the baseline, the temperature rose by 5 degrees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x6)
- A baseline helps you see if your spelling has improved. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a baseline, baselines; sometimes spelt «base line». In maths and science problems, the change = new value − baseline: if the baseline is 20 and the new value is 26, the increase is 6. Do not confuse with «bassline» (the low notes in music).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «baseline» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/baseline/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«baseline» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/baseline.html) on Mova free.