bot·tom
| \ ˈbä-təm
\
1a
: the underside of something
at the bottom of the box a cut on the bottom of her foot The vase is signed on the bottom.
b
: a surface (such as the seat of a chair) designed to support something resting on it
—used figuratively in phrases like the bottom dropped out to describe a sudden collapse or downturn lost millions when the bottom dropped out of the stock market
2
: the surface on which a body of water lies
sank to the bottom of the ocean
3
nautical
a
: the part of a ship's hull lying below the water
b
: boat, ship
cargo … carried by foreign bottoms— Virginia A. Oakes
4a
: the lowest part or place
the bottom of the page stood at the bottom of the stairs
b
: the remotest or inmost point
sail to the bottom of the bay
c
: the lowest or last place in rank or position
The CEO started at the bottom and worked her way up. graduated at the bottom of the class the bottom of the pay scale
d
clothing
: the part of a garment worn on the lower part of the body
white tops and navy blue bottoms a bikini bottom
especially
: the pants of pajamas
—usually used in plural
e
baseball
: the last half of an inning
the bottom of the ninth
f
music
: the bass or baritone instruments of a band
5
geography
: bottomland
—usually used in plural the Mississippi river bottoms
6
: basis, source
trying to get to the bottom of these rumors
7
: capacity (as of a horse) to endure strain
a breed of dogs outstanding for bottom
8
textiles
: a foundation color applied to fibers before dyeing
9
physics
: a fundamental quark that accounts for the existence and lifetime of upsilon particles and has an electric charge of −¹/₃ and a measured energy of approximately 5 GeV
also
: the flavor (see flavor entry 1 sense 4b) characterizing this particle
bottomed;
bottoming;
bottoms
transitive verb
1
: to furnish (something, such as a chair) with a bottom
2
: to provide a foundation for
men who wanted to bottom the dreams of the Romantics— Bonamy Dobrée
3
: to bring to the bottom
bottomed the submarine on the ocean floor
4
: to find the basis or source of (something, such as a rumor) : to get to the bottom (see bottom entry 1 sense 6) of
The mystery hasn't been bottomed.
intransitive verb
1
: to become based or grounded
find on what foundation any proposition bottoms— John Locke
2
: to reach the bottom
bottoming on the sea floor
3
: to reach a point where a decline is halted or reversed
—usually used with out The team bottomed out in last place.
1
: of, relating to, or situated at the bottom (see bottom entry 1)
bottom rock
2
: frequenting the lowest part or place : frequenting the bottom
bottom fish
