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foundation
8 dictionary results for: Foundation
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
foun·da·tion 
[foun-dey-shuhn] Pronunciation Key
[foun-dey-shuhn] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | the basis or groundwork of anything: the moral foundation of both society and religion. |
| 2. | the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests. |
| 3. | the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground. |
| 4. | the act of founding, setting up, establishing, etc.: a policy in effect since the foundation. |
| 5. | the state of being founded. |
| 6. | an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc.: the Ford Foundation. |
| 7. | an endowment for such an institution. |
| 8. | a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup. |
| 9. | foundation garment. |
| 10. | Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| foun·da·tion
(foun-dā'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.
[Middle English fundacioun, from Latin fundātiō, fundātiōn-, from fundātus, past participle of fundāre, to lay the groundwork for; see found1.] foun·da'tion·al adj. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
foundation
foundation
c.1385, "action of founding," from L. fundationem (nom. fundatio) "a founding," from fundatus, pp. of fundare (see found (1)). The L. word is glossed in O.E. by staþol. Meaning "that which is founded" (a college, hospital, etc.) is from 1513; meaning "funds endowed" is c.1430. Sense of "solid base of a structure" is from 1494.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| foundation | |
noun | |
| 1. | the basis on which something is grounded; "there is little foundation for his objections" |
| 2. | an institution supported by an endowment |
| 3. | lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower" |
| 4. | education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge; "he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study"; "a good grounding in mathematics" |
| 5. | the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture" [syn: basis] |
| 6. | a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body [syn: foundation garment] |
| 7. | 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" [syn: initiation] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
foundation foun·da·tion (foun-dā'shən)
n.
The basis on which something stands or is supported; a base.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: foun·da·tion
Function: noun
1 : a basis upon which something stands or is supported; specifically : a witness's preliminary testimony given to identify or explain evidence being offered at trial and establish its connection to the issue for which it is offeredfoundation for the orthopedic surgeon's familiarity with the…standard of care rendered the surgeon's opinion testimony inadmissible —National Law Journal>
NOTE: Before evidence can be admitted at trial, the foundation for it must be laid by the party offering it. A foundation must also be laid for the qualification of a witness as an expert, or for the assertion of a privilege.
2 a : funds given for the permanent support of an institution : ENDOWMENT b : an organization or institution established by endowment with provision for future maintenance —foun·da·tion·al adjective
Main Entry: foun·da·tion
Function: noun
1 : a basis upon which something stands or is supported; specifically : a witness's preliminary testimony given to identify or explain evidence being offered at trial and establish its connection to the issue for which it is offered
NOTE: Before evidence can be admitted at trial, the foundation for it must be laid by the party offering it. A foundation must also be laid for the qualification of a witness as an expert, or for the assertion of a privilege.
2 a : funds given for the permanent support of an institution : ENDOWMENT b : an organization or institution established by endowment with provision for future maintenance —foun·da·tion·al adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This
foundation
The axiom of foundation states that the membership relation is well founded, i.e. that any non-empty collection Y of sets has a member y which is disjoint from Y. This rules out sets which contain themselves (directly or indirectly).
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Foundation
Foun*da"tion\, n. [F. fondation, L. fundatio. See Found to establish.]1. The act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect. 2. 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; groundwork; basis. Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone . . . a precious corner stone, a sure foundation. --Is. xxviii. 16. The foundation of a free common wealth. --Motley. 3. (Arch.) The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course (see Base course (a), under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry. 4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment. He was entered on the foundation of Westminster. --Macaulay. 5. That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity. Against the canon laws of our foundation. --Milton. Foundation course. See Base course, under Base, n. Foundation muslin, an open-worked gummed fabric used for stiffening dresses, bonnets, etc. Foundation school, in England, an endowed school. To be on a foundation, to be entitled to a support from the proceeds of an endowment, as a scholar or a fellow of a college.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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