base / cousin
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base
A chemical compound that is able to accept protons and is the opposite of an acid. In an aqueous solution, it forms an alkali.
Im Chemieunterricht haben wir gelernt, wie man eine Säure mit einer Base neutralisiert.
In chemistry class, we learned how to neutralize an acid with a base.
base
A fundamental building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) that encodes genetic information.
Die vier Basen der DNA sind Adenin, Guanin, Cytosin und Thymin.
The four bases of DNA are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.
cousin / aunt
An outdated or dialectal term for a female relative, especially a cousin or, less commonly, an aunt.
Meine Großmutter erzählte oft von ihrer Lieblingscousine, die sie nur „Base Anna“ nannte.
My grandmother often told stories about her favorite cousin, whom she called only 'Cousin Anna.'
The three meanings of 'Base' (base / cousin) are very different. The context always makes clear what is meant: chemistry (the opposite of an acid), biology (part of DNA), or an outdated family story (relative).
Für diesen Versuch brauchen wir eine starke Base.
For this experiment, we need a strong base.
The meaning 'Cousine' (female cousin) or 'Tante' (aunt) is outdated and is no longer used in modern standard German. You find it almost only in old literature or when older people talk about their childhood.
Meine Urgroßmutter nannte ihre Cousinen immer ihre Basen.
My great-grandmother always called her female cousins her 'Basen.'
In a chemical context, 'Base' (base) is often used in fixed combinations. Typical ones are 'Säure und Base' (acid and base) or the process of 'eine Säure mit einer Base zu neutralisieren' (neutralizing an acid with a base).
Säuren und Basen sind grundlegende Konzepte in der Chemie.
Acids and bases are fundamental concepts in chemistry.
In biology, people usually speak of the 'vier Basen der DNA' (four bases of DNA) or of a 'Basenpaar' (base pair). These terms are very specific to the genetic context.
Ein Fehler in der Reihenfolge der Basen kann zu Mutationen führen.
An error in the sequence of bases can lead to mutations.
basis / base
In a chemical context, Basis and Base can both refer to a substance that reacts with an acid. Base is the precise technical term. Basis can express the same meaning more generally, but it is less unambiguous when an exact technical designation is required.
Im Versuchsbericht wird die Lauge genau als Base bezeichnet.
The experiment report precisely identifies the alkali as a base.
Die Lehrerin beschreibt die Lauge zunächst allgemein als chemische Basis.
The teacher initially describes the alkali more generally as a chemical base.
