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bottom definition

bot·tom (bät′əm)

noun

  1. the lowest part
    1. the lowest or last place or position the bottom of the class
    2. Baseball the second half (of an inning)
  3. the part on which something rests; base
  4. the underside or whichever end is underneath the bottom of a crate
  5. the seat of a chair
  6. the part farthest in; inner end, as of a bay or lane
  7. the bed or ground beneath a body of water
  8. ☆ bottomland
    1. the part of a ship's hull normally below water
    2. a ship; esp., a cargo ship
  10. the lower unit of a two-piece garment, as pajama trousers
  11. fundamental or basic meaning or cause; source
  12. endurance; stamina
  13. Informal the buttocks

Etymology: ME botme < OE botm, bodan, ground, soil < IE *bhudh-men < base *bhudh- > L fundus, ground, Gr pythmen, bottom, Ger boden

adjective

of, at, or on the bottom; lowest, last, undermost, basic, etc.

transitive verb

  1. to provide with a bottom
  2. to place (something) on or upon a foundation; base

intransitive verb

  1. to reach or rest upon the bottom
  2. to be based or established
bottom Idioms

at bottom

fundamentally; actually

be at the bottom of

to be the underlying cause of; be the real reason for

bet one's bottom dollar

☆
Slang to bet one's last dollar; bet everything one has

bottom out

☆
to level off at a low point, as prices

bottoms up!

Informal drink deep!: a toast

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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