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base unit
noun
plural base units
: one of a set of fundamental units in a system of measurement that is based on a natural phenomenon or established standard and from which other units may be derived
The base units of the International System of Units are the meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela.
compare absolute unit
Examples of base unit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
OpenAI charges $15 per million tokens (the base unit of AI data, equivalent to about 1.5 words) of input and $60 per million output tokens, whereas a million input tokens cost Reasoner 8 cents, and a million output tokens just 30 cents.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
Its base unit is not the droning chord, but instead the articulated phrase—however serene, this is a music of statements, not mere soundscapes.
—Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024
There's also still no way to exit a game and return to the title selection screen short of physically hitting the reset button on the base unit.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2017
Though expanded in scope and scale, Fatigue maintains the Brooklyn musician’s skepticism toward the song form as an obligatory base unit of musical communication.
—Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
The base unit of the crystal structure has 10 lead atoms in it, and that number is decreased in exact proportion to the number of copper atoms that get added.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023
In addition, there's no guarantee that neighboring base units in the same crystal will be identical.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023
There are lead atoms located at very specific places in each base unit of the crystal, and not all of these locations are equivalent to each other.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023
The base unit can take four stackable satellite batteries, increasing its total capacity to more than 30,000 watts; Zendure's Smart Home Panel can connect the base to your home's electrical circuits to supply power throughout the house.
—Dan Diclerico, goodhousekeeping.com, 4 Apr. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near base unit
Cite this Entry
“Base unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/base%20unit. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
base unit
noun
: one of a set of simple units in a system of measurement that is based on a natural phenomenon or established standard and from which other units may be derived see international system of units
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