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Definition of foundation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

foundation

noun
 
 
/faʊnˈdeɪʃn/
 
/faʊnˈdeɪʃn/
Idioms
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  1.  
    [countable, uncountable] a principle, an idea or a fact that something is based on and that it grows from
    • Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage.
    • He laid the foundation of Japan's modern economy.
    • These stories have no foundation (= are not based on any facts).
    • without foundation The rumour is totally without foundation (= is not based on any facts).
    Synonyms basisbasisfoundation ▪ baseThese are all words for the ideas or facts that something is based on.basis [usually sing.] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports something and that it can develop from:
    • This article will form the basis for our discussion.
    foundation [C, U] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports something and that it develops from:
    • Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage.
    • The rumour is totally without foundation (= is not based on any facts).
     basis or foundation?Foundation is often used to talk about larger or more important things than basis: He laid the foundations of Japan’s modern economy. • These figures formed the basis of their pay claim. base [usually sing.] an idea, a fact or a situation from which something is developed:
    • His arguments have a sound economic base.
    Patterns
    • a/​the basis/​foundation/​base for/​of something
    • a secure/​solid/​sound/​strong/​weak basis/​foundation/​base
    • to form the basis/​foundation/​base of something
    • to be without basis/​foundation
    Extra Examples
    • Worship is the foundation of all the Church's activities.
    • He believes terrorism undermines the very foundations of our society.
    • We now have a firm foundation to build on.
    • This agreement laid a sound foundation for future cooperation between the two countries.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + foundation
    • have no
    preposition
    • without foundation
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] an organization that is established to provide money for a particular purpose, for example for scientific research or charity
    • The money will go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
    Extra Examples
    • Many of the hospitals were originally established by religious foundations.
    • The research centre was set up by a charitable foundation.
    • a private foundation for sport and the arts
    Topics Social issuesb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • charitable
    • private
    • research
    • …
    verb + foundation
    • establish
    • set up
    • start
    • …
    preposition
    • foundation for
    See full entry
  3.  
    [uncountable] the act of starting a new institution or organization synonym establishment
    • The organization has grown enormously since its foundation in 1955.
    • She used the money to go towards the foundation of a special research group.
  4.  
    [countable, usually plural] a layer of stone, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building
    • The builders are now beginning to lay the foundations of the new school.
    • The explosion shook the foundations of the houses nearby.
    Synonyms bottombottombase ▪ foundation ▪ footThese are all words for the lowest part of something.bottom [usually sing.] the lowest part of something:
    • Footnotes are given at the bottom of each page.
    • I waited for them at the bottom of the hill.
    base [usually sing.] the lowest part of something, especially the part or surface on which it rests or stands:
    • The lamp has a heavy base.
    foundation [usually pl.] a layer of stone, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building:
    • to lay the foundations of the new school
    foot [sing.] the lowest part of something:
    • At the foot of the stairs she turned to face him.
     bottom or foot?Foot is used to talk about a limited number of things: it is used most often with tree, hill/​mountain, steps/​stairs and page. Bottom can be used to talk about a much wider range of things, including those mentioned above for foot. Foot is generally used in more literary contexts.Patterns
    • at/​near/​towards the bottom/​base/​foot of something
    • on the bottom/​base of something
    • (a) firm/​solid/​strong base/​foundation(s)
    Wordfinder
    Extra Examples
    • Concrete foundations have been laid.
    • The thunder seemed to shake the very foundations of the building.
    • They had dug too deep and undermined the foundations of the house.
    Topics Buildingsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deep
    • concrete
    verb + foundations
    • dig
    • lay
    • shake
    • …
    foundation + noun
    • stone
    • wall
    See full entry
  5. [uncountable] a skin-coloured cream that is put on the face under other make-up
    Wordfinder
    Topics Appearancec2
    6. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French fondation, from Latin fundatio(n-), from fundare ‘to lay a base for’, from fundus ‘bottom, base’.
Idioms
shake/rock the foundations of something | shake/rock something to its foundations
  1. to cause people to question their basic beliefs about something
    • This issue has shaken the foundations of French politics.
    • an event which rocked the foundations of British politics
    • The scandal rocked the legal establishment to its foundations.
See foundation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee foundation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: foundation

Nearby words

pepper
noun
 
 
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