foundations

foundations — noun

1. the main ideas, facts, or beliefs that hold up a system, argument, or way of lif

1.名詞B2
釋義

the main ideas, facts, or beliefs that hold up a system, argument, or way of life.

例句

Trust and clear rules are the foundations of a healthy team.

foundations of + relationship or group

These early lessons gave Anya strong foundations in maths and science.

foundations in + subject

同義詞
  • basis

    a general supporting reason or fact, often less structural than foundation

  • groundwork

    stresses early preparation that later work depends on

  • underpinnings

    often used for the hidden supporting ideas behind a system

反義詞

文法句型

the foundations of + system/belief/relationship

foundations in + subject

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' or 'in' when naming the thing supported or the subject learned. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is abstract, not a physical support under a building.

常見錯誤

❌The foundations on the theory are weak.
✅The foundations of the theory are weak.
💡this sense normally takes 'of', not 'on'.

2. the buried structures below ground that hold up a building or wall.

2.名詞B1
釋義

the buried structures below ground that hold up a building or wall.

例句

Workers dug deep foundations before the hospital walls went up.

deep foundations

Cracks spread when rainwater weakened the house foundations last winter.

weakened the house foundations

同義詞
  • footings

    more technical and often refers to the concrete parts under walls or columns

  • base

    broader word for the lowest part of something

反義詞
  • roof

    the top covering of a building rather than the lowest support

文法句型

deep foundations

damage to + foundations

用法筆記

Usually plural even for one building when talking about the structural parts under it. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to actual construction, not supporting ideas.

常見錯誤

❌The builder checked the foundations of the idea.
✅The builder checked the foundations of the house.
💡this sense is only for physical building support.

3. the formal act of setting up an institution, company, or system at the beginning

3.名詞C1
釋義

the formal act of setting up an institution, company, or system at the beginning of its history.

例句

The foundation of the college in 1912 brought doctors to the town.

the foundation of + institution

This gallery shows documents from the foundation of the orchestra.

同義詞
  • establishment

    formal and often used for institutions or official bodies

  • founding

    more direct and often less formal in modern English

反義詞
  • closure

    the end of an institution rather than its beginning

文法句型

the foundation of + institution/state

mark/record + the foundation of + organization

用法筆記

This is a formal historical use and usually appears with 'of' plus the name of an institution or state. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names the starting event, not the basic ideas that support something.

常見錯誤

❌The party's foundation ideas were secret.
✅The party's founding ideas were secret.
💡this sense is about the act of starting, not the ideas themselves.

4. money given and kept so a school, hospital, or similar body can be supported for

4.名詞C1
釋義

money given and kept so a school, hospital, or similar body can be supported for many years.

例句

Income from the foundation paid for new beds in the children's ward.

income from the foundation

The school spends only part of its foundation each year.

同義詞
  • endowment

    the usual modern word for a permanent support fund

  • fund

    broader and less tied to long-term institutional support

反義詞
  • debt

    money owed instead of money set aside to support something

文法句型

income from + the foundation

losses in + the foundation

用法筆記

This formal sense refers to the money itself, not to the organization that manages it. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 is the group, while this sense is the long-term fund.

常見錯誤

❌The foundation hired three nurses.
✅The foundation paid for three nursing posts.
💡this sense means money, not the organization using it.

5. a group created with donated money and maintained by that long-term fund.

5.名詞B2
釋義

a group created with donated money and maintained by that long-term fund.

例句

The foundation gives free legal advice to migrant workers.

a foundation gives + service

A local foundation rebuilt classrooms after the typhoon.

同義詞
  • charity

    broader word for any organization that helps others

  • trust

    often used for bodies that manage money for a specific purpose

反義詞
  • business

    a company mainly formed to make profit

文法句型

a foundation + gives/offers/builds + something

the foundation for + cause/place

用法筆記

This sense names the organization itself and often appears in titles such as 'the Ford Foundation'. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense is the institution that acts, not the money it controls.

常見錯誤

❌The foundation is worth ten million, so it hired teachers.
✅The foundation has a ten-million-dollar fund, so it hired teachers.
💡when talking about the organization acting, make the group the subject, not the money.

6. a woman's garment worn under clothes to shape and support her body.

6.名詞C1
釋義

a woman's garment worn under clothes to shape and support her body.

例句

The tailor suggested a smooth foundation under the silk wedding dress.

foundation under + dress

Anya bought a lighter foundation for the summer uniform.

同義詞
  • shapewear

    modern everyday term for clothing that smooths the body shape

  • support garment

    broader phrase for clothing that shapes or supports the body

反義詞
  • outerwear

    clothes worn on the outside rather than underneath

文法句型

wear + a foundation + under + dress/skirt

bridal foundations

用法筆記

This is an older fashion term and is often replaced today by 'shapewear' in everyday English. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is clothing, not structural support under a building.

常見錯誤

❌The builder checked the foundation before pouring concrete.
✅The builder checked the foundations before pouring concrete.
💡building support belongs to sense 2, not this clothing sense.