baseline

/ˈbeɪslaɪn/
verb
  1. To establish a starting point or standard for comparison.
    • The researchers baselined each participant's fitness level.
    • We need to baseline the project's costs before we begin.
    • The IT team will baseline the network performance this week.
noun
  1. A minimum or starting point used for comparisons.
    • The company uses last year's sales as a baseline for this year's goals.
    • Before starting the diet, the doctor recorded her weight as a baseline.
    • The test results gave us a baseline for measuring future improvement.
  2. In sports like tennis or baseball, the line marking the back or side boundary of the playing area.
    • The runner was safe because he touched the baseline before the tag.
    • The tennis player hit a powerful shot from the baseline.
    • She stood just behind the baseline, waiting for the serve.
  3. A line that serves as a basis for measurement or calculation.
    • The architect drew a baseline on the blueprint to align the walls.
    • Surveyors used a baseline to measure the distance across the field.
    • In the graph, the baseline represents zero degrees.
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