baseline
UK: ˈbeɪslaɪn | US: ˈbeɪslaɪn
n. a reference point or standard for comparison
n. (Sports) the line marking the boundary of a playing area
n. (Computing) a set of measurements used as a starting point for analysis
The word "baseline" combines "base" (from Old French bas, meaning "low" or "foundation") and "line" (from Latin linea, meaning "string" or "mark"). Originally used in surveying to denote a foundational reference line, it later expanded into sports (e.g., tennis, baseball) to describe boundary lines. In modern usage, it metaphorically represents a standard or starting point across fields like science, business, and computing.
The study used data from 2010 as a baseline for comparison.
The tennis player stepped over the baseline, resulting in a fault.
Developers established a performance baseline before optimizing the software.
Her salary was set above the industry baseline.
The project’s baseline budget was approved by the committee.