footprint

[ foot-print ]
See synonyms for footprint on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a mark left by the shod or unshod foot, as in earth or sand.

  2. an impression of the sole of a person's foot, especially one taken for purposes of identification.

  1. Informal. the track of a tire, especially on wet pavement.

  2. a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc., that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification: Be careful when you post on social media—your online footprint could harm your reputation.The tumors share the same genetic footprint.

  3. the area affected by an increase in the level of sound or noise, as that generated by an airplane.

  4. Telecommunications. the area of the earth's surface within which a communications satellite's signals can be received.

  5. Aerospace. the area within which it is predicted that a spacecraft or its debris will land.

  6. the surface space of a desk or tabletop occupied by a piece of equipment, especially a computer or other electronic device.

  7. the surface area occupied by any structure, device, etc.: The new store will have a large footprint.

  8. the impact that humans have on the environment, especially in the utilization of natural resources: China's water footprint;ways to reduce our environmental footprint.

  9. any impact or effect, or its scope: the company’s wide footprint across Puerto Rico.

  10. Also called ecological footprint . the amount of biologically productive land and ocean area required to sustain the resource consumption and waste production of an individual, population, or human activity: measured in global acres or hectares.

  11. Computers. the amount of memory or disk space required by a program.

Origin of footprint

1
First recorded in 1545–55; foot + print

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use footprint in a sentence

  • The victims of the tiger dare not leave footprints for it will give away their whereabouts.

    Kari the Elephant | Dhan Gopal Mukerji
  • We found footprints of a man, but escaping the law seems to be that fellas strong point.

  • The prince pointed at the cavern entrance where our footprints still showed in the dust.

    Valley of the Croen | Lee Tarbell
  • Fortunately, this time, for in it footprints stood out clear, illuminated by the white moonlight.

    Average Jones | Samuel Hopkins Adams
  • He led the way to the side of the house, and there pointed out the footprints.

    The Daffodil Mystery | Edgar Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for footprint

footprint

/ (ˈfʊtˌprɪnt) /


noun
  1. an indentation or outline of the foot of a person or animal on a surface

  2. the shape and size of the area something occupies: enlarging the footprint of the building; a computer with a small footprint

  1. impact on the environment

  2. a military presence: since 1944, America's military footprint in Europe has been in the West

  3. computing the amount of resources, such as disk space and memory, that an application requires: See also electronic footprint

  4. an identifying characteristic on land or water, such as the area in which an aircraft's sonic boom can be heard or the area covered by the down-blast of a hovercraft

  5. the area in which the signal from a direct broadcasting satellite is receivable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012