noun
baseline
BAYS-lyn
noun
1
A fixed starting point used for comparison when measuring change.
"The doctor took a baseline reading of his blood pressure before starting treatment."
"Sales figures from last January serve as our baseline for this year's targets."
2
The back line marking the boundary of the court in sports like tennis or basketball.
"She hit the ball just inside the baseline."
How to Use Baseline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reference point you measure everything else against.
Common pairings
baseline measurement
establish a baseline
baseline data
Word Forms
baselined past tense, baselines plural, baselines singular
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The doctor took a _____ reading of his blood pressure before starting treatment.
Etymology
From base + line, originally a surveying term for a reference line used in measurement.