foundation

Noun

• the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
  • she looked forward to her initiation as an adult
    
  • the foundation of a new scientific society
    

• a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body

• the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
  • the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
    

• education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge
  • he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study
    
  • a good grounding in mathematics
    

• lowest support of a structure
  • it was built on a base of solid rock
    
  • he stood at the foot of the tower
    

• an institution supported by an endowment

• the basis on which something is grounded
  • there is little foundation for his objections
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  initiation , founding , institution , origination , creation , innovation , introduction , instauration , foundation garment , basis , base , fundament , groundwork , cornerstone , grounding , foot , substructure , understructure