parts of buildings in general

foundation

foun·da·tion AW [foundation foundations]   [faʊnˈdeɪʃn]    [faʊnˈdeɪʃn]  noun

1. countable, usually plural a layer of bricks, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building
• The builders are now beginning to lay the foundations of the new school.

• The explosion shook the foundations of the houses nearby.

2. countable, uncountable a principle, an idea or a fact that sth is based on and that it grows from
• Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage.
• The rumour is totally without foundation (= not based on any facts).

• These stories have no foundation (= are not based on any facts).

3. countable an organization that is established to provide money for a particular purpose, for example for scientific research or charity

• The money will go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

4. uncountable the act of starting a new institution or organization
Syn:  establishment
• The organization has grown enormously since its foundation in 1955.

• She used the money to go towards the foundation of a special research group.

5. uncountable a skin-coloured cream that is put on the face underneath other make-up
Idioms: rock something to its foundations ▪ rock the foundations of something  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French fondation, from Latin fundatio(n-), from fundare ‘to lay a base for’, from fundus ‘bottom, base’.  
Thesaurus:
foundation noun
1. C, usually pl.
• They started to lay the foundations of the new school.
base • • bottom •
(a) firm/solid/strong foundations/base
have (a) foundations/base/bottom
2. C, usually sing.
• Friendship provides a solid foundation for marriage.
basis • • base •
the foundation/basis/base for/of sth
a/an ideological/intellectual/philosophical/theoretical/economic foundation/basis/base
form/have sth as/establish/use sth as a/the foundation/basis/base of sth
Foundation or basis? Foundation is often used to talk about larger and more important things than basis
• He laid the foundation of Japan's modern economy.
• These figures formed the basis of their pay claim.
 
Synonyms:
basis
foundation • base
These are all words for the ideas or facts that sth is based on.
basis • [usually sing.] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports sth and that it can develop from: ▪ This article will form the basis for our discussion.
foundation • [C, U] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports sth and that it develops from: ▪ Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage. ◊ ▪ The rumour is totally without foundation ▪ (= is not based on any facts) ▪.
basis or foundation?
Foundation is often used to talk about larger or more important things than basis: ▪ He laid the foundations of Japan 's modern economy. ◊ ▪ These figures formed the basis of their pay claim.
base • [usually sing.] an idea, a fact or a situation from which sth is developed: ▪ His arguments have a sound economic base.
a/the basis/foundation/base for/of sth
a secure/solid/sound/strong/weak basis/foundation/base
to form the basis/foundation/base of sth
to be without basis/foundation 
Synonyms:
bottom
base • foundation • foot
These are all words for the lowest part of sth.
bottom • [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth: ▪ Footnotes are given at the bottom of each page. ◊ ▪ I waited for them at the bottom of the hill.
base • [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth, especially the part or surface on which it rests or stands: ▪ The lamp has a heavy base.
foundation • [usually pl.] a layer of bricks, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building: ▪ to ▪ lay the foundations ▪ of the new school
foot • [sing.] the lowest part of sth: ▪ At the foot of the stairs she turned to face him.
bottom or foot?
Foot is used to talk about a limited number of things: it is used most often with tree, hill/mountain, steps/stairs and page. Bottom can be used to talk about a much wider range of things, including those mentioned above for foot. Foot is generally used in more literary contexts.
at/near/towards the bottom/base/foot of sth
on the bottom/base of sth
(a) firm/solid/strong base/foundation(s) 
Example Bank:
• Concrete foundations have been laid.
• He believes terrorism undermines the very foundations of our society.
• In 1853 Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the new palace.
• Rumours of his resignation are entirely without foundation.
• The Fine Arts degree starts with a foundation year.
• The foundation stone was laid in 1911.
• The peace treaty rests on shaky foundations.
• The scandal rocked the legal establishment to its foundations.
• The thunder seemed to shake the very foundations of the building.
• They had dug too deep and undermined the foundations of the house.
• This agreement laid a sound foundation for future cooperation between the two countries.
• We now have a firm foundation to build on.
• a charitable foundation established in 1983
• a private foundation for sport and the arts
• an event which rocked the foundations of British politics
• digging trenches and laying concrete foundations
• malicious gossip which has no foundation
• malicious rumours which have no foundation
• providing a solid foundation for this new democracy
• He laid the foundation of Japan's modern economy.
• Many of the hospitals were originally established by religious foundations.
• The research centre was set up by a charitable foundation.
• The rumour is totally without foundation.

• Worship is the foundation of all the Church's activities.