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The heavy interior portion of the earth, within the lithosphere.

An oxide of barium (or barytum); a heavy earth with a specific gravity above 4.

Barium sulphate, generally called heavy spar or barite. See Barite.

Of or pertaining to baryta.

e or gray color, occurring massive or crystallized. It is a compound of the carbonates of barium and calcium.

A male voice, the compass of which partakes of the common bass and the tenor, but which does not descend as low as the one, nor rise as high as the other.

The metal barium. See Barium. [R.]

re, the figures of which project less than half of their true proportions; -- called also bassrelief and basso- rilievo. See Alto-rilievo.

Relating to, or forming, the base. Basal cleavage. See under Cleavage. -- Basal plane (Crystallog.), one parallel to the lateral or horizontal axis.

Having the nerves radiating from the base; -- said of leaves.

An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black porcelain.

Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as basaltic lava.

In the form of basalt; columnar.

Formed like basalt; basaltiform.

Same as Basil, a sheepskin.

Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal.

A bluestocking; a literary woman. [Somewhat derisive]

A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor. [Written also basinet, bassinet, basnet.]

s an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls. Bascule bridge, a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air.

Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic] Shak.