footing

Pluralfootings (some meanings)

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The steady balance that keeps you upright when you stand or walk.

   Like keeping your balance on a rocking boat.

   She lost her footing on the icy steps and nearly fell.

   Keep a firm footing when you climb the ladder.

   Similarbalance, stability

   Note
2. 2
   nounusually singular

   A secure position or place from which you can act or grow.

   Like getting your first solid step onto a ladder.

   The new company gained a footing in the market within a year.

   The family worked hard to get a footing in their new country.

   Similarfoothold, toehold, position, standing, base

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   A solid place where you can put your feet and stand safely.

   Like a flat stone you can stand on to cross a stream.

   The narrow ledge gave the climbers little footing.

   He found good footing on the flat rock and pulled himself up.

   Similarfoothold, purchase, grip, traction

   Note
4. 4
   nounusually singular

   The terms or level on which two sides deal with each other.

   Like two runners starting at the same line.

   The two teams started the game on an equal footing.

   After the deal, both firms were on a friendly footing.

   Similarbasis, terms, standing, level

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   The wide base at the bottom of a wall that spreads its weight onto the ground.

   Like a wide foot at the bottom of a table leg so it won't sink into sand.

   Builders poured a concrete footing before laying the first bricks.

   A wide footing keeps the heavy wall from sinking into soft ground.

   Similarfoundation, base

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   Adding up a column of numbers, or the total you get.

   Like adding up all the prices on a shopping list to get one total.

   The clerk checked the footing at the bottom of the page.

   A mistake in the footing threw off the whole bill.

   Similartotal, tally, sum, addition

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   Checking that a column of numbers adds up correctly.

   Like adding up your list again to make sure you got the right total.

   The auditor did a footing to make sure the numbers were right.

   A quick footing showed the column had been added wrong.

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Putting a new foot onto something, or the foot that is added.

   Like sewing a new sole onto a worn-out shoe.

   The footing of the old socks took her all evening.

   He learned the footing of stockings from his grandmother.

9. 9
   verb

   Present participle of foot. Use this form for the action happening now or as a name for the activity.

   She is footing the cost of the whole trip.

   They are footing the repair bill together.

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable or uncountable

    A kind of plain, narrow cotton lace with no patterns.

    Like a plain ribbon used to decorate the edge of cloth.

    She trimmed the collar with a simple footing.

    The dress had a band of white footing along the hem.

11. 11
    noununcountable

    The finer leftover bits of whale blubber that still hold some oil.

    Like the bits of fat left in the pan after cooking meat.

    The workers scraped the footing from the bottom of the try-pot.

    Footing was boiled again to squeeze out the last oil.

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