What is the definition of a base word?

The definition of a base word refers specifically to a word from which many other words can be derived through the addition of prefixes, suffixes, or other forms of modification. Base words serve as the foundation of a word family; for instance, the base word "play" can give rise to "playing," "played," "playful," and "replay." This core understanding is essential for teaching vocabulary development, as it helps students grasp how words are connected and how their meanings can shift with different prefixes and suffixes.

The other options provide more specific terms or definitions that do not encapsulate the broader concept of a base word. An affix refers to additional letters or sounds added to a word, a word that cannot stand alone is known as a bound morpheme, and a word with no phonetic value doesn’t accurately represent any recognized linguistic concept in word formation. Thus, the correct definition aligns well with the understanding of language and its construction.