foundation

foun·da·tion  (foun-dshn)

n.

1. The act of founding, especially the establishment of an institution with provisions for future maintenance.

2. The basis on which a thing stands, is founded, or is supported. See Synonyms at base¹.

3.

a. Funds for the perpetual support of an institution; an endowment.

b. An institution founded and supported by an endowment.

4. A foundation garment.

5. A cosmetic base.

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[Middle English fundacioun, from Latin fundti, fundtin-, from fundtus, past participle of fundre, to lay the groundwork for; see found¹.]

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foun·dation·al adj.

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foundation

Noun

1. the basic experience, idea, or attitude on which a way of life or belief is based: respect for the law is the foundation of commercial society

2. a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building, wall, etc.

3. the base on which something stands

4. the act of founding

5. an endowment for the support of an institution, such as a college

6. an institution supported by an endowment

7. a cosmetic used as a base for make-up

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	foundation - the basis on which something is grounded; "there is little foundation for his objections" relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together basis, footing, ground - a relation that provides the foundation for something; "they were on a friendly footing"; "he worked on an interim basis" grass roots - the essential foundation or source; "the problem was attacked at the grass roots"
	2.	foundation - an institution supported by an endowment financial institution, financial organisation, financial organization - an institution (public or private) that collects funds (from the public or other institutions) and invests them in financial assets charity - a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
	3.	foundation - lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower" understructure, base, groundwork, substructure, fundament, foot bed - a foundation of earth or rock supporting a road or railroad track; "the track bed had washed away" raft foundation - a foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" support - supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation; "the statue stood on a marble support"
	4.	foundation - education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge; "he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study"; "a good grounding in mathematics" grounding education - knowledge acquired by learning and instruction; "it was clear that he had a very broad education"
	5.	foundation - the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture" cornerstone, fundament, groundwork, basis, base explanation - thought that makes something comprehensible meat and potatoes - the fundamental part; "successful negotiation is the meat and potatoes of arbitration" supposal, supposition, assumption - a hypothesis that is taken for granted; "any society is built upon certain assumptions"
	6.	foundation - a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body foundation garment corset, stays, girdle - a woman's close-fitting foundation garment roll-on - a woman's foundation garment rolled on to the hips undergarment, unmentionable - a garment worn under other garments
	7.	foundation - the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society" founding, instauration, initiation, origination, innovation, institution, creation, introduction commencement, start, beginning - the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations" authorship, paternity - the act of initiating a new idea or theory or writing; "the authorship of the theory is disputed"

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foundation

noun 1. basis, heart, root, mainstay, beginning, support, ground, rest, key, principle, fundamental, premise, starting point, principal element

noun 2. (often plural) substructure, underpinning, groundwork, bedrock, base, footing, bottom

noun 3. setting up, institution, instituting, organization, settlement, establishment, initiating, originating, starting, endowment, inauguration

Translations

foundation [faunˈdeɪʃən] n (act) → fundación f (= basis); base f (also: foundation cream) → base f de maquillaje

foundation [faunˈdeɪʃən] found n (= act) → fondation f (= base); fondement m;

(also: foundation cream) → fond m de teint;

foundations npl [of building] → fondations fpl;

to lay the foundations (fig) → poser les fondements

foundation [faunˈdeɪʃən] found n → Gründung f;

(base) (also fig) → Grundlage f;

(organization) → Stiftung f;

(also: foundation cream) → Grundierungscreme f;

foundations found npl (of building) → Fundament nt;

the rumours are without foundation found → die Gerüchte entbehren jeder Grundlage;

to lay the foundations found (fig); die Grundlagen schaffen

foundation [faunˈdeɪʃən] n (= act) → fondazione f (= base); base f (also: foundation cream) → fondo tinta;

foundations npl [of building] → fondamenta fpl;

to lay the foundations → gettare le fondamenta