Definitions for "Base word"
a word to which a prefix or suffix may be added to form a new word (go + ing = going)
a word or word part from which other words can be made by adding a prefix or suffix. Example: In 'transport',' import' and ' export' the base word is 'port'
This term is used interchangeably with Root Word. Base words may be free or bound morphemes to which affixes or inflectional endings may be added. For example, tend (a free morpheme, it can stand alone) is the base word in tending and distend. Trieve is a bound morpheme, it cannot stand alone, is the base word in retrieve.