ˈbɔtəm n.,
adj., & v. --n. 1 a
the lowest
point or
part (bottom of the stairs). b the part on
which a
thing rests (bottom of a saucepan). c the
underneath part (scraped the bottom of the car). d the
furthest or
inmost part (bottom of the garden). 2 colloq. a the buttocks. b the
seat of a
chair etc. 3 a the
less honourable,
important, or
successful end of a
table, a
class, etc. (at the bottom of the list of requirements). b a
person occupying
this place (he's
always bottom of the class). 4 the ground
under the
water of a lake, a
river, etc. (swam
until he touched the bottom). 5 the
basis; the
origin (he's at the bottom of it). 6 the
essential character;
reality. 7 Naut. a the keel or hull of a
ship. b a ship,
esp. as a cargo-carrier. 8 staying
power;
endurance. --adj. 1 lowest (bottom button). 2 last (got the bottom score). --v. 1 tr. put a bottom to (a chair,
saucepan, etc.). 2 intr. (of a ship)
reach or
touch the bottom. 3 tr.
find the
extent or real
nature of;
work out. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by on) base (an
argument etc.) (reasoning bottomed on logic). 5 tr. touch the bottom or lowest point of. øat bottom basically, essentially. be at the bottom of
have caused.
bet one's bottom
dollar sl. stake
all. bottom
dog =
UNDERDOG. bottom
drawer Brit.
linen etc. stored by a
woman in
preparation for her marriage. bottom falls out
collapse occurs. bottom
gear see GEAR. bottom line colloq. the
underlying or
ultimate truth; the ultimate, esp.
financial,
criterion. bottom out reach the lowest
level. bottoms up! a
call to
drain one's
glass. bottom up upside-down.
get to the bottom of
fully investigate and explain.
knock the bottom out of
prove (a thing)
worthless. øøbottommost adj. [OE botm f. Gmc]