Base

Soaps such as this AJAX dish soap and other types of detergants are considered forms of bases.

A base is a compound that contains hydroxide ions when it is dissolved in water. Bases are also measured on the pH scale and are referred to as alkalis, these bases give solutions with hydrogen ion activity that is lower than the activity in pure water. Basic substances lie on the pH scale ranging from any substance with a pH level higher than 7.0 up to a pH level of 14, 14 being the strongest form of a basic substance. A weak base would be considered baking soda or common sea water. A stronger basic substance would be Ammonia or Lye.

Sources: 
Ophardt, E. Charles. Acids and Bases. elmhurst.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2011, from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/184ph.html