foundation
     n 1: the basis on which something is grounded; "there is little
          foundation for his objections"
     2: an institution supported by an endowment
     3: the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or
        developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument
        rested on a basis of conjecture" [syn: {basis}, {base}, {fundament},
         {groundwork}, {cornerstone}]
     4: lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of
        solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower" [syn: {base},
         {fundament}, {foot}, {groundwork}, {substructure}, {understructure}]
     5: education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of
        knowledge; "he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced
        study"; "a good grounding in mathematics" [syn: {grounding}]
     6: a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of
        the body [syn: {foundation garment}]
     7: 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"; "he regards the fork as a modern
        introduction" [syn: {initiation}, {founding}, {institution},
         {origination}, {creation}, {innovation}, {introduction},
        {instauration}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0