foot

/fut/
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foot

A child wiggles their bare foot in the cool grass.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • The lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person or animal stands or walks: The terminal part of the leg in vertebrates.
    • The lower or lowest part of something; the base or bottom: The part of an object on which it rests or is supported.
    • A unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm): A standard unit of length.
    • (Prosody) A group of syllables forming a basic unit of meter in poetry: A metrical unit.
    • Infantry; soldiers who march and fight on foot: A military unit.
  2. Verb:

    • To pay (a bill): To settle a financial account.
    • To walk or tread: To travel on foot.
    • To add up (a column of numbers): To perform an arithmetic sum.
Usage and Examples
  • Noun:

    • She hurt her foot while hiking. (Refers to the body part.)
    • The foot of the mountain was covered in fog. (Refers to the base of something.)
    • The room is twelve feet wide. (Refers to the unit of measurement.)
    • The poem uses an iambic foot. (Refers to the poetic unit.)
    • The foot advanced under cover of artillery. (Refers to infantry soldiers.)
  • Verb:

    • The company will foot the bill for the repairs. (Refers to paying.)
    • We had to foot it back to town after the car broke down. (Refers to walking.)
    • Please foot this column of expenses. (Refers to adding numbers.)
Advanced Usage and Idioms
  • To foot the bill: To be responsible for paying the cost.

    • His parents footed the bill for his university education.
  • To have one foot in the grave: To be very old or very ill and likely to die soon.

    • At 95, he jokes that he has one foot in the grave.
  • To put one's foot down: To be firm or insistent; to refuse to allow something.

    • She finally put her foot down and told them they couldn't stay out past midnight.
  • To put one's foot in it (or in one's mouth): To say something tactless or embarrassing.

    • I really put my foot in it when I asked about her ex-husband.
  • To set foot in/on: To enter or go to (a place).

    • He swore he would never set foot in that house again.
  • On foot: Walking, not using a vehicle.

    • We decided to explore the city on foot.
  • To get off on the wrong foot: To make a bad start at something.

    • I'm afraid we got off on the wrong foot at the meeting.
Variants and Related Words
  • Footing (noun):

    • A secure grip with one's feet; a basis or foundation.
      • He lost his footing on the icy path.
      • The two companies are on an equal footing.
  • Footage (noun): A length of film or video.

    • The news showed footage of the event.
  • Footprint (noun): The impression left by a foot or shoe; the area affected by something.

    • We saw animal footprints in the mud.
    • The carbon footprint of the industry.
  • Footstep (noun): A step taken in walking; the sound of a step.

    • I heard footsteps in the hallway.
Synonyms
  • Noun (for body part): Paw (of an animal), hoof (of a horse).
  • Noun (for base): Bottom, base, foundation.
  • Verb (for pay): Settle, cover, pay for.
  • Verb (for walk): Walk, tread, hoof it (informal).
Phrasal Verbs
  • Foot up (to): To add up to a total.
    • The costs foot up to nearly a thousand dollars.
Related Idioms
  • At someone's feet: As someone's admirer or disciple.

    • She had the whole audience at her feet.
  • To be rushed off one's feet: To be extremely busy.

    • During the holidays, the staff are rushed off their feet.
  • To have feet of clay: To have a fundamental flaw or weakness (despite an impressive appearance).

    • The scandal revealed that the celebrity had feet of clay.
  • To stand on one's own two feet: To be independent and self-sufficient.

    • After college, it was time for him to stand on his own two feet.
foot

A child wiggles their bare foot in the cool grass.

Verb
  1. add a column of numbers
  2. walk
    • let's hoof it to the disco
  3. pay for something
    • pick up the tab
    • pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
    • foot the bill
Noun
  1. a support resembling a pedal extremity
    • one foot of the chair was on the carpet
  2. (prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
  3. an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
    • there came ten thousand horsemen and as many fully-armed foot
  4. a member of a surveillance team who works on foot or rides as a passenger
  5. travel by walking
    • he followed on foot
    • the swiftest of foot
  6. any of various organs of locomotion or attachment in invertebrates
  7. lowest support of a structure
    • it was built on a base of solid rock
    • he stood at the foot of the tower
  8. the pedal extremity of vertebrates other than human beings
  9. the lower part of anything
    • curled up on the foot of the bed
    • the foot of the page
    • the foot of the list
    • the foot of the mountain
  10. a linear unit of length equal to 12 inches or a third of a yard
    • he is six feet tall
  11. the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
    • his bare feet projected from his trousers
    • armored from head to foot