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foundation

foundation

7 3.3
Basic teaching that gives the essential knowledge needed in a subject
  • noun
  • /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
: base
  • His work, along with that of his peers, became the foundation for my evidence-based practice in the classroom.
  • a strong foundation
  • a solid foundation
  • build a foundation in

And I think it's probably a great foundation to just get the basics.

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Examples

  • Of course, I knew that intellectual freedom was a foundation of my profession.

    Academic text (2015)
  • It's important that we give them a good foundation when they're young.

  • Head Start schools provide an educational foundation but also serve physical and mental health needs.

    Academic text (2015)
  • For example, school counselors work from a foundation of existing relationships with teachers and students.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Miramichi youth continue to build the foundation of a prosperous tourism industry in the region.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In sum, children's preschool experiences can build a foundation on which to build later academic success.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The ability to listen astutely, describe, and recreate sounds is the foundation for learning language and music.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The recommendations made in the study provide a strong foundation for improving the RDA cataloging rules.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Competent intercultural communication skills lay the foundation for meaningful exchanges between people from different cultures.

    Academic text (2008)
  • A solid educational foundation is crucial for a child's future learning success.

Synonyms

basics
vsfoundation
138 1.0

Important facts or skills you learn first in a subject

offers structured education that builds deeper subject knowledge
fundamentals
vsfoundation
  • Specialized
31 3.0

Basic ideas you learn first when studying a subject

focuses on providing formal teaching rather than just listing elements
grounding
vsfoundation
7 4.3

Basic training in the main skills and knowledge of a subject

provides broader essential knowledge and formal instruction

Antonyms

275 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

When someone does not understand something correctly and this causes a problem

Compounds

116 3.5

A basic idea that people build other things on

An independent United States agency that gives money to support research and education in science and engineering

private foundation
  • Specialized
6 4.8

A charity that gets most of its money from one person or company

3 4.5

A stone placed at a building's start during a ceremony, often with the date and founder's name

A piece of clothing women wear under dresses to shape or support their body

An organization that gives money to help people, groups, or schools

raft foundation
  • Specialized
6.7

A large concrete slab under a building that spreads its weight to stop sinking on soft ground

How Thorough

core
641 3.2
foundation
7 3.3
introduction
28 1.4
overview
69 3.8

Surface Forms

foundation singular
foundations plural

Morphology

foundation = found (transparent) = found + ation

The noun is a straightforward nominalization of 'found' (to establish) with '-ation', denoting the basic underlying basis or starting instruction.

Etymology

Foundation comes from an old Latin root fundus meaning 'bottom' and the verb found meaning 'to lay a base'. Think of basic education as the low, strong layer you build on. So, a foundation in a subject is the basic knowledge that supports later learning.