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foundation Definition

foun·da·tion (fo̵un dā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. a founding or being founded; establishment
    1. an organization established to maintain, assist, or finance institutions or projects of a social, educational, charitable, religious, etc. nature, as by the making of grants
    2. the fund or endowment used by such an organization to carry out its programs
    3. an institution maintained by such a fund
  3. the base on which something rests; specif., the supporting part of a wall, house, etc., usually of masonry, concrete, etc., and at least partially underground
  4. the fundamental principle on which something is founded; basis
  5. a supporting material or part beneath an outer part
  6. foundation garment
  7. a cosmetic cream, liquid, etc. over which other makeup is applied

Etymology: ME foundacioun < OFr fondation < L fundatio < pp. of fundare: see found

foundation Related Forms

foun·da′·tional adjective

foundation Synonyms

foundation

n.

  1. An intellectual basis

    reason, justification, grounds; see basis 1.

  2. A physical basis

    base, footing, foot, basement, pier, groundwork, bed, ground, resting place, bottom, substructure, wall, understructure, underpinning, solid rock, rest, roadbed, support, substratum, prop, stand, bolster, stay, skid, shore, pediment, post, pillar, infrastructure, skeleton, column, shaft, pedestal, buttress, abutment, framework, scaffold, beam, chassis, skewback, pile.

  3. That which has been founded

    institution, organization, endowment, institute, society, establishment, company, guild, trusteeship, corporation, association, charity, fund.

  4. The act of founding

    establishment, origination, institution; see establishing 1. See syn. study at base.

foundation Law Definition

n

Of evidence, that it indicates or leads to the admissibility of other evidence; a nonprofit organization created to fund or promote charitable causes.

foundation Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • lay: We can help you lay the foundations for the next phase of your life.
  • shake: Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail.
  • undermine: The ensuing investigation could lead to the discovery of The Holy Grail and threatens to undermine the foundations of Christianity.
  • lie: I entirely share his view that it is hugely important that we lay the foundation for ameliorating those problems.
  • provide: Adoption of FTA's five action points would provide a firm foundation.
  • establish: Only having established a secure foundation, we are in a position to engage in ethical rhetoric.

Adjective modifier

  • solid: Gravity dams are usually built on solid rock foundations.
  • charitable: Niall is chairman of the King's Fund, a large independent charitable foundation working for better health.
  • theoretical: Theoretical foundations of data exchange have recently been investigated for relational data.
  • philosophical: Such an argument would constitute a philosophical foundation for business ethics.
  • concrete: Conventional houses are built on concrete foundations with brick walls joined together by cement.
  • shaky: Otherwise our advances will be built on very shaky foundations.

Modifies a noun

  • stone: The foundation stone of a new church was laid by Miss Hill of Appleby on 11 July, 1866.
  • degree: In the UK, foundation degrees will soon be offered.
  • trust: In the short term, the credit quality of foundation trusts will differ little from NHS trusts.
  • hospital: Kevin Curran, the newly elected general secretary of the GMB, used his victory speech to attack the setting up of foundation hospitals.
  • trench: Cutting through the walls, or rather the stone-filled foundation trench of Structure 1, was a second structure ( Structure 2 on Fig.

Noun used with modifier

  • firm: The first step lays a firm foundation for the future.
  • Kaiser: The kaiser family foundation purchase rates for eligible for medicaid.
  • johnson: Kids quot says are similar to wood johnson foundation.

Browse dictionary entries near foundation

  1. ‹ found object
  2. ‹ found
  3. ‹ foulmouthed
  4. ‹ foulbrood
  5. ‹ foulard
  6. ‹ foul-up
  7. ‹ foul tip
  8. ‹ foul shot
  9. ‹ foul pole
  10. ‹ foul play
  1. foundation garment ›
  2. founded ›
  3. founder ›
  4. founding ›
  5. founding father ›
  6. foundling ›
  7. foundry ›
  8. foundry proof ›
  9. fount ›
  10. fountain ›