bottom

The word “bottom” means the lowest part of something.

“Bottom” is pronounced BO-tuhm (/ˈbɑ.təm/ in IPA).

Here is “bottom” used in a sentence: “They found the keys at the bottom of her bag.”

Depending on how it is used, “bottom” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.

The word “bottom” comes from Old English. From Old English botm, going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "bottom" or "foundation," shared with similar words across many European languages.

“Bottom” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Bottom” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the lowest part of something.

The direct opposite is 'top', the highest part of something, as in the top and bottom of a page. Depending on context, 'summit', 'peak', or 'surface' can also serve, since the surface of water sits above its bottom and a mountain's peak stands over its base.

'Bottom' is the lowest part of anything, like the bottom of a lake, a bag, or a page. 'Base' is the part something stands or rests on, suggesting support, like the base of a statue. A base is usually a bottom, but 'bottom' is the broader, more everyday word.

You will find it in phrases like the bottom of the sea, the bottom of the stairs, the bottom of a page, or the bottom of a glass. In each case it marks the lowest point or underside of something, standing as the opposite of its top.

Yes, mainly in the phrase 'bottom out', which means to reach the lowest point before recovering, as when prices or a slump bottom out. As a standalone verb it is rare, so most everyday use is as a noun meaning the lowest part of something.