founding
founding — adjective
1. describes the people, events, or core ideas that belong to the period when a maj
describes the people, events, or core ideas that belong to the period when a major organization, nation, or institution was first created.
The university invited all living descendants of its founding president to the ceremony.
founding + role (president/member/father)
Dr. Okafor wrote a detailed book about the founding principles of the African Union.
The museum's founding collection came entirely from one family's private art collection.
The founding members of the co-operative still meet for lunch every month.
- original
focuses on the first form; less tied to the act of creation
- pioneering
emphasises the innovative or trailblazing aspect of the early period
- later
refers to developments after the initial period
- subsequent
describes things that came after the founding era
文法句型
founding + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun — you cannot say 'the principles are founding.'
常見錯誤
founding — noun
1. the event or process by which an important organization, country, or institution
the event or process by which an important organization, country, or institution is brought into being for the first time.
This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the company's founding in Taipei.
noun: anniversary/date + of founding
The founding of the National Health Service took place in 1948.
Mei Ling's research examines the founding of modern healthcare systems across Southeast Asia.
The city celebrated the founding of its first public library with a week of events.
- establishment
more general; can apply to rules or systems, not just organizations
- creation
broader scope; can refer to art, ideas, or physical objects
- inception
more formal; suggests the very first moment of beginning
- dissolution
the formal ending of an organization
- closure
the act of shutting down a business or institution
文法句型
the founding of [institution]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' and the name of the organization. Can be both countable ('a founding') and uncountable ('since its founding').
常見錯誤
founding — verb
1. to start or create a lasting organization, company, city, or other institution t
to start or create a lasting organization, company, city, or other institution that continues to exist beyond the initial effort.
Henrik and Sofia founded a language school that now teaches eight hundred students.
transitive: found + [organization]
In 1923, Amara's grandfather founded the first independent newspaper in the region.
The Jeong family is founding a new research institute dedicated to renewable energy.
Kwame founded a community garden that supplies fresh vegetables to local restaurants.
文法句型
found + [organization]
用法筆記
Different from 'set up,' which can be used for temporary arrangements. 'Found' implies creating something meant to last.
常見錯誤
2. to place the lower supporting part of a large building, bridge, or other structu
to place the lower supporting part of a large building, bridge, or other structure into the ground so that it stays safely in position.
The engineers founded the bridge's concrete pillars on solid bedrock to prevent sinking.
founded [structure] on [base material] — physical construction
Workers spent two weeks founding the library's base in soft coastal soil.
The old cathedral is founded on wooden piles driven deep into the riverbed.
The dam's wall is founded on granite layers thirty metres below the surface.
文法句型
found [structure] on [ground/material]
be founded on [base]
用法筆記
This is a technical construction sense. In everyday English, 'lay the foundation for' or 'build the base of' are more common.
常見錯誤
3. to use a particular fact, piece of evidence, or guiding principle as the main su
to use a particular fact, piece of evidence, or guiding principle as the main support for a belief, opinion, argument, or system.
The professor founded her theory on data collected from over forty clinical studies.
founded [abstract thing] on [evidence]
The architects' partnership was founded on mutual respect and a shared passion for design.
passive: be founded on [abstract quality]
The judge's decision is founded on a strict reading of the original contract.
Yuki's teaching method is founded on the idea that students learn best through hands-on practice.
- undermine
to weaken or destroy the basis of an argument or system
文法句型
be founded on [evidence/principle]
found [claim] on [basis]
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the passive or with a reflexive-like structure. The active form ('He founded his argument on…') is more formal. Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense does NOT involve creating an institution; it describes the logical basis of an idea.