foundation
Americannoun
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the basis or groundwork of anything.
the moral foundation of both society and religion.
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the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.
- Synonyms:
- footing
- Antonyms:
- superstructure
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the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.
- Synonyms:
- footing
- Antonyms:
- superstructure
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the act of founding, found, setting up, establishing, etc..
a policy in effect since the foundation.
- Synonyms:
- settlement, establishment
-
the state of being founded. found.
- Synonyms:
- settlement, establishment
-
an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc..
the Ford Foundation.
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an endowment for such an institution.
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a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup.
-
Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit.
noun
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that on which something is founded; basis
-
(often plural) a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building, wall, etc
-
the base on which something stands
-
the act of founding or establishing or the state of being founded or established
-
-
an endowment or legacy for the perpetual support of an institution such as a school or hospital
-
entitled to benefit from the funds of a foundation
-
-
an institution supported by an endowment, often one that provides funds for charities, research, etc
-
the charter incorporating or establishing a society or institution and the statutes or rules governing its affairs
-
a cosmetic in cream or cake form used as a base for make-up
-
cards a card on which a sequence may be built
Related Words
See base 1.
Other Word Forms
- foundational adjective
- foundationally adverb
- foundationary adjective
- prefoundation noun
Etymology
Origin of foundation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English foundacioun, from Latin fundātiōn- (stem of fundātiō ), equivalent to fundāt(us) (past participle of fundāre; found 1 ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The foundation runs programmes aimed at addressing "a skills gap within the UK textile industry".
From Barron's
Villeroy said he was leaving to lead a Catholic charitable foundation, but it was seen as potentially laying the groundwork for a broader shuffling of ECB roles ahead of the French election.
Because of that and other benefits, the humble Mac mini has become the weapon of choice for techies to run their coding and desktop agents, using the LLMs as the foundation.
From Barron's
Stripping away these elements would, in Tehran's view, dismantle the foundations of its deterrence.
From BBC
Yet on the same day, the foundation said Gates would deliver his keynote address as scheduled.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
