foundation
n. C / Un. the strong base of a building that is built underground to support the weight. It can also mean the basic idea or principle that something is built on.
n. the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level. In an abstract sense, it refers to the underlying basis or principle on which something is established.
The workers are pouring concrete for the house foundation.
A solid understanding of grammar provides the foundation for learning a new language effectively.
The structural integrity of the skyscraper was compromised when engineers discovered that the foundation had been laid on unstable, sandy soil without sufficient reinforcement.
From Middle English foundacioun, fundacioun, from Old French fondacion, from Latin fundātiō (“founding, foundation”).
Countable when referring to physical structures or specific organizations; often uncountable when referring to the abstract basis of an idea.