foundations

noun

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 act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect.

(figurative) The result of the work to begin something; that which stabilizes and allows an enterprise or system to develop.

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.

(architecture) 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.

(card games) 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.

A basis for social bodies or intellectual disciplines.

(cosmetics) Cosmetic cream roughly skin-colored, designed to make the face appear uniform in color and texture.

Roots

fundusfound- · Latin · bottom

Synonyms & related words for foundations

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Words related to foundations

Explore words related to foundations — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include groundwork, fundament, understructure, substructure, cornerstone, basis, foundational, founding. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does foundations come from?

The word foundations breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root found-, from Latin fundus (“bottom”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.