# foundation

Pronunciation: say "fown-DAY-shuhn" /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/

## Noun

1. The basis or underlying principle on which something rests and from which it develops.
   - Simple: The basic idea, fact or work that something is built on and grows from.
   - _These early reforms laid the foundation for decades of economic growth._
   - _Trust forms the foundation of any lasting partnership._
2. The lowest, load-bearing part of a building, wall or other structure, usually below ground, on which it stands.
   - Simple: The strong base, usually under the ground, that a building or wall stands on.
   - _Engineers poured the foundation before raising the steel frame._
   - _The old house had settled because its foundation was cracking._
3. An institution or charity established and supported by an endowment of funds.
   - Simple: An organization that is set up and paid for to do good work, like a charity.
   - _The research foundation awards grants to young scientists each year._
   - _He runs a charitable foundation dedicated to clean water projects._
4. The act of founding, establishing, or beginning to build something.
   - Simple: The act of starting or setting up something new.
   - _The foundation of the republic followed years of revolution._
   - _Historians date the foundation of the monastery to the ninth century._
5. A skin-colored cosmetic, usually a liquid, cream or powder, applied to give the face an even color and texture.
   - Simple: Skin-colored makeup, often a liquid or cream, put on the face to make the skin look even.
   - _The makeup artist blended foundation across the model's face under bright lights._
   - _A lightweight foundation evens out redness without feeling heavy._
6. A donation or legacy appropriated as a permanent fund to support a charitable institution; an endowment.
   - Simple: A gift of money set aside as a lasting fund to support a charity.
   - _A local merchant left the hospital a foundation of $20,000, invested so that only the yearly income could ever be spent._
   - _Rather than spend the bequest at once, the trustees kept it as a permanent foundation and paid the scholarships from the interest alone._
7. In solitaire and patience games, one of the piles built up by the player, usually holding a full suit in ascending order.
   - Simple: In card games like solitaire, a pile you build up, usually one suit in order.
   - _He could finally move the trapped king onto its foundation._
   - _Each foundation must begin with an ace and build up to the king._

## Origin

Latin fundātiō, meaning "founding" or "foundation," passed into Old French as fondacion and into Middle English as foundacioun.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/foundation (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).