foundation stone

noun

1. any of the stones composing the foundation of a building.

2. a cornerstone.

foundation stone

noun

1. a stone laid at a ceremony to mark the foundation of a new building

Word History and Origins

Origin of foundation stone¹

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

The lead-encased wooden box was sealed to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the hospital's Variety Club Building, which opened in 1994.

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Human oversight is a foundation stone of what is known as "responsible" AI.

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For example, Mali's junta leader Gen Assimi Goïta laid the foundation stone last month for a gold refinery, in which a Russian conglomerate, the Yadran Group, will have a minority stake.

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Community and musical kinship is Ezra Collective's foundation stone; one that can be traced back to the youth club Tomorrow's Warriors, where they first met in central London in 2012.

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This is a process called microtubule nucleation, which is like laying the foundation stones of a bridge.

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