foundation
/ˌfaʊ̯nˈdeɪ̯ʃən/ noun B1- The act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect. · The foundation of his institute has been wrought with difficulty.
- That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure; underbuilding.
- The result of the work to begin something; that which stabilizes and allows an enterprise or system to develop.
- In solitaire or patience games, one of the piles of cards that the player attempts to build, usually holding all cards of a suit in ascending order.
- The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry. · The foundations of this construction have been laid out.
- A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment.
- That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity. · The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is the parent organization of the Wiktionary collaborative project.
- Cosmetic cream roughly skin-colored, designed to make the face appear uniform in color and texture.
Plural foundations
From the library
About two hours afterwards its foundation was reported to be unsafe; but the report did not prevent the new occupant establishing himself there with his modest furniture the same day at five o’clock.
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation.
But I know the foundation is unjust.
Danglars, who never had possessed any patrimony, both laid the foundations of their different fortunes.”
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