FOOTING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does footing mean? 

• FOOTING (noun)
  The noun FOOTING has 3 senses:

1. status with respect to the relations between people or groups

2. a relation that provides the foundation for something

3. a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing

  Familiarity information: FOOTING used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOOTING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Status with respect to the relations between people or groups

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

footing; terms

Context example:

on a friendly footing

Hypernyms ("footing" is a kind of...):

position; status (the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A relation that provides the foundation for something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

basis; footing; ground

Context example:

he worked on an interim basis

Hypernyms ("footing" is a kind of...):

foundation (the basis on which something is grounded)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "footing"):

common ground (a basis agreed to by all parties for reaching a mutual understanding)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

foothold; footing

Hypernyms ("footing" is a kind of...):

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "footing"):

toehold (a small foothold used in climbing)

 Context examples 

It is on that extensive footing that Mr. Micawber, I know from my own knowledge of him, is calculated to shine; and the profits, I am told, are e-NOR-MOUS!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As Buck grew winded, Spitz took to rushing, and he kept him staggering for footing.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

But the next moment his footing would be lost and he would be dragging around in the whirl of one of White Fang's mad gyrations.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

But never did he forget to shiver, nor to stumble where the footing was rough, nor to cry aloud at the bite of the lash.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But you were on a friendly footing?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When they staggered to their feet once more, the whole keep had settled down upon one side, so that they could scarce keep their footing upon the sloping platform.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

From time to time, indeed, I had to lend him a hand, or he must have missed his footing and fallen backward down the hill.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

When she was halfway across the room there came a great shriek from the wind, and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

I have a great mind to go back into Norfolk directly, and put everything at once on such a footing as cannot be afterwards swerved from.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was mere lively chat, such as any young persons, on an intimate footing, might fall into.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)