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Possible definitions for oases
oasis
Fertile tract of land that occurs in a desert wherever a permanent supply of fresh water is available. Oases vary in size from about 2.5 acres (1 hectare) around small springs to vast areas of naturally watered or irrigated land. Underground water sources account for most oases; their springs and wells are supplied from sandstone aquifers whose intake areas may be more than 500 mi (800 km) away. Two-thirds of the population of the Sahara live in oases, where the date palm is the main source of food; the palm also provides shade for growing citrus fruits, figs, peaches, apricots, vegetables, and cereal grains.
ass
Either of two species of small, sturdy equines. Asses are 3-5 ft (90-150 cm) high at the shoulder. The African wild ass, or true ass (Equus asinus) is bluish gray to fawn; the Asiatic wild ass, or half-ass (E. hemionus) is reddish to yellow-gray. The half-ass differs from the true ass in that it has extremely long, slender legs, shorter ears, and larger hooves. The true ass has the alternating "hee-haw" bray. Desert dwellers, wild asses often inhabit regions that cannot support other large mammals. They are very swift runners. See also donkey.
base
In chemistry, any substance that in water solution is slippery to the touch, tastes bitter, changes the color of acid-base indicators (e.g., litmus paper), reacts with acids to form salts, and promotes certain chemical reactions (e.g., base catalysis). Examples of bases are the hydroxides of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals (sodium, calcium, etc.) and the water solutions of ammonia or its derivatives (amines). Such substances produce hydroxide ions (OH-) in water solutions. Broader definitions of bases cover situations in which water is not present. See also acid-base theory, alkali, nucleophile.
Basel
City (pop., 1996: 174,000; metro. area pop.: 404,000), NW Switzerland. It straddles the Rhine at the point where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. It was originally a settlement of the Celtic Rauraci tribe. Its university, the first in Switzerland, was founded by Pope Pius II while attending the Council of Basel (1431-49). In 1501 Basel was admitted into the Swiss Confederation. When D. Erasmus taught at the university 1521-29, the city became a center of humanism and of the Reformation. Primarily German-speaking and Protestant, it is an important trading and industrial city and river port.
basenji
Ancient breed of hound native to central Africa, where it is used to point and retrieve and to drive quarry into a net. Known as the barkless dog, it produces a variety of sounds other than barks. Its finely wrinkled forehead, erect ears, and tightly curled tail give it a characteristic alert expression. It has a short, silky reddish brown, black, or black-and-tan coat and white feet, chest, and tail tip. It stands 16-17 in. (41-43 cm) high and weighs 22-24 lbs (10-11 kg). It is clean ...
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