foot
(in vertebrates) the terminal part of the leg, below the ankle joint, on which the body stands and moves.
(in invertebrates) any part similar in position or function.
such a part considered as the organ of locomotion.
a unit of length, originally derived from the length of the human foot. It is divided into 12 inches and equal to 30.48 centimeters. Abbreviation: ft., f.
foot soldiers; infantry.
walking or running motion; pace: swift of foot.
quality or character of movement or motion; tread; step.
any part or thing resembling a foot, as in function, placement, shape, etc.
Furniture.
a shaped or ornamented feature terminating a leg at its lower part.
any of several short legs supporting a central shaft, as of a pedestal table.
a rim, flange, or flaring part, often distinctively treated, serving as a base for a table furnishing or utensil, as a glass, teapot, or candlestick.
the part of a stocking, sock, etc., covering the foot.
the lowest part, or bottom, of anything, as of a hill, ladder, page, etc.
a supporting part; base.
the part of anything opposite the top or head: He waited patiently at the foot of the checkout line.
the end of a bed, grave, etc., toward which the feet are placed: Put the blanket at the foot of the bed, please.
Printing. the part of the type body that forms the sides of the groove, at the base.
the last, as of a series.
that which is written at the bottom, as the total of an account.
Prosody. a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit of a verse.
Usually foots .
sediment or dregs.
Nautical. the lower edge of a sail.
to walk; go on foot (often followed by it): We'll have to foot it.
to move the feet rhythmically, as to music or in dance (often followed by it).
(of vessels) to move forward; sail: to foot briskly across the open water.
to walk or dance on: footing the cobblestones of the old city.
to perform (a dance): cavaliers footing a galliard.
to traverse on or as if on foot.
to make or attach a foot to: to foot a stocking.
to pay or settle: I always end up footing the bill.
to add (a column of figures) and set the sum at the foot (often followed by up).
to seize with talons, as a hawk.
to establish.
Archaic. to kick, especially to kick away.
Obsolete. to set foot on.
Idioms about foot
get / have / a / one's foot in the door, to succeed in achieving an initial stage or step.
get off on the right / wrong foot, to begin favorably or unfavorably: He got off on the wrong foot with a tactless remark about his audience.
have one foot in the grave. grave1 (def. 5).
on foot, by walking or running, rather than by riding.
put one's best foot forward,
to attempt to make as good an impression as possible.
to proceed with all possible haste; hurry.
put one's foot down, to take a firm stand; be decisive or determined.
put one's foot in / into it, Informal. to make an embarrassing blunder.: Also put one's foot in / into one's mouth .
set foot in / on, to go on or into; enter: Don't set foot in this office again!: Also step foot in / on .
under foot, in the way: That cat is always under foot when I'm getting dinner.
Origin of foot
1Words Nearby foot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use foot in a sentence
A kicked football will not reverse in midair and return to the kicker’s foot.
How special relativity can help AI predict the future | Will Heaven | August 28, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewIt’s important to us that we put our best foot forward always, and that’s been hard to reconcile with the shipping delays.
Slowed mail delivery is the last thing indie bookstores need right now | Rachel King | August 19, 2020 | FortuneThere’s different muck under your boggy feet in different parts of the country, at different times.
Every Decision Is A Risk. Every Risk Is A Decision. | Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com) | July 21, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightThe median sales price of homes in Cheesman Park is $799,000 with an average of $457 per square foot.
If your influencer isn’t credible enough, your audience might not get swept off their feet.
How to get more leads on Instagram: 10 Highly effective tactics | Bhavik Soni | July 7, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
Together, they crossed over the International Bridges on foot into Juarez to conduct some business.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro | Bill Conroy | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the classic skillset of piloting, mental acuity, and its coordination with hand and foot movements, is equally vital.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly? | Clive Irving | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWearing the right foot of a chicken was considered good luck.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity | William O’Connor | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt made sense with so many suspects at hand, less so with the tower entrance separated from them by a forty foot wall.
Marabella, now licking her lollipop and tapping her foot, appears unfazed.
Even Grade School Kids Are Protesting the Garner Killing Now | Caitlin Dickson | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera | John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")I find myself chained to the foot of a woman, my noble Cornelia would despise!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterWe had now approached closely to the foot of the mountain-ranges, and their lofty summits were high above us in mid-air.
We see the whole land, even if but at a distance, instead of being limited merely to the spot where our foot treads.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayBut there is a pinnacle of human success and of human opinion, on which human foot was never yet permitted to rest.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
British Dictionary definitions for foot (1 of 2)
/ (fʊt) /
the part of the vertebrate leg below the ankle joint that is in contact with the ground during standing and walking: Related adjective: pedal
the part of a garment that covers a foot
any of various organs of locomotion or attachment in invertebrates, including molluscs
botany the lower part of some plant structures, as of a developing moss sporophyte embedded in the parental tissue
a unit of length equal to one third of a yard or 12 inches. 1 Imperial foot is equivalent to 0.3048 metre: Abbreviation: ft
any of various units of length used at different times and places, typically about 10 per cent greater than the Imperial foot
any part resembling a foot in form or function: the foot of a chair
the lower part of something; base; bottom: the foot of the page; the foot of a hill
the end of a series or group: the foot of the list
manner of walking or moving; tread; step: a heavy foot
infantry, esp in the British army
(as modifier): a foot soldier
any of various attachments on a sewing machine that hold the fabric in position, such as a presser foot for ordinary sewing and a zipper foot
music
a unit used in classifying organ pipes according to their pitch, in terms of the length of an equivalent column of air
this unit applied to stops and registers on other instruments
printing
the margin at the bottom of a page
the undersurface of a piece of type
prosody a group of two or more syllables in which one syllable has the major stress, forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
a foot in the door an action, appointment, etc, that provides an initial step towards a desired goal, esp one that is not easily attainable
kick with the wrong foot Scot and Irish to be of the opposite religion to that which is regarded as acceptable or to that of the person who is speaking
my foot! an expression of disbelief, often of the speaker's own preceding statement: he didn't know, my foot! Of course he did!
of foot archaic in manner of movement: fleet of foot
on foot
walking or running
in progress; astir; afoot
one foot in the grave informal near to death
on the right foot informal in an auspicious manner
on the wrong foot informal in an inauspicious manner
put a foot wrong to make a mistake
put one's best foot forward
to try to do one's best
to hurry
put one's foot down informal
to act firmly
to increase speed (in a motor vehicle) by pressing down on the accelerator
put one's foot in it informal to blunder
set on foot to initiate or start (something)
tread under foot to oppress
under foot on the ground; beneath one's feet
to dance to music (esp in the phrase foot it)
(tr) to walk over or set foot on; traverse (esp in the phrase foot it)
(tr) to pay the entire cost of (esp in the phrase foot the bill)
(usually foll by up) archaic, or dialect to add up
Origin of foot
1usage For foot
Derived forms of foot
- footless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Foot (2 of 2)
/ (fʊt) /
Michael (Mackintosh). 1913–2010, British Labour politician and journalist; secretary of state for employment (1974–76); leader of the House of Commons (1976–79); leader of the Labour Party (1980–83)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for foot
[ fut ]
A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 13 of a yard or 12 inches (30.48 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with foot
In addition to the idioms beginning with foot
- foot in both camps, have a
- foot in one's mouth, put one's
- foot in the door, get one's
- foot the bill
also see:
- bound hand and foot
- caught flat-footed
- get off on the wrong foot
- not touch with a ten-foot pole
- one foot in the grave
- on foot
- on the right foot
- play footsie
- put one's best foot forward
- put one's foot down
- put one's foot in it
- set foot
- shoe is on the other foot
- shoot oneself in the foot
- wait on hand and foot
Also see underfeet.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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