an imaginary line or standard by which things are measured or compared
"the established a baseline for the budget"
the back line bounding each end of a tennis or handball court; when serving the server must not step over this line
"Before hitting the serve, the player ensures their foot does not cross the baseline at the back of the tennis court."
the lines a baseball player must follow while running the bases
"The coach adjusted his stance so he wouldn't accidentally cross the baseline before touching each base."
A line that is a base for measurement or for construction.
"The architect drew a baseline across the foundation to ensure all walls were built perpendicular to it."
In plain English: A baseline is your starting point that you use to measure how much things have changed later on.
"The doctor used her vital signs from last year as a baseline to compare with today's readings."
Usage: Use this term to describe the standard reference point against which progress, performance, or changes are measured in any field from science to business. It often refers specifically to an initial state established before testing begins rather than just any starting line.
To provide a baseline for measurement.
"The researchers established a baseline for measurement by recording the water levels before introducing the new chemical compound."
In plain English: To baseline something means to set it as your standard starting point for comparison later on.
"The manager decided to baseline our current sales performance before launching the new marketing campaign."
The word baseline is a straightforward compound formed from the words base and line. It entered English simply by combining these two existing terms to describe a fundamental starting point or reference level.