What does the term "base" refer to in the context of exponents?

In the context of exponents, the term "base" refers to the number that is being raised to a power. When you see an expression like (a^n), "a" is the base, and it is multiplied by itself "n" times. For example, in (3^4), the base is 3, and this expression means that 3 is multiplied by itself four times (3 × 3 × 3 × 3), which equals 81. This fundamental concept is essential for understanding how exponentiation works, as it illustrates the role of the base in producing the result of the exponentiation.