foundation in WordNet English dictionary

1. lowest support of a structure
   "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"
   foundation  base  fundament  foot  groundwork  substructure  understructure 
   
2. the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
   "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture"
   basis  base  foundation  fundament  groundwork  cornerstone 
   
3. 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"
   initiation  founding  foundation  institution  origination  creation  innovation  introduction  instauration 
   
4. a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body
   foundation garment  foundation 
   
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"
   foundation  grounding 
   
6. an institution supported by an endowment
   foundation 
   
7. the basis on which something is grounded
   "there is little foundation for his objections"
   foundation