foot

[ foot ]

noun

, plural feet foots

1. (in vertebrates) the terminal part of the leg, below the ankle joint, on which the body stands and moves.
2. (in invertebrates) any part similar in position or function.
3. such a part considered as the organ of locomotion.
4. a unit of length, originally derived from the length of the human foot. It is divided into 12 inches and equal to 30.48 centimeters. : ft., f.
5. foot soldiers; infantry.
6. walking or running motion; pace:

   swift of foot.

7. quality or character of movement or motion; tread; step.
8. any part or thing resembling a foot, as in function, placement, shape, etc.
9. Furniture.
   1. a shaped or ornamented feature terminating a leg at its lower part.
   2. any of several short legs supporting a central shaft, as of a pedestal table.
10. a rim, flange, or flaring part, often distinctively treated, serving as a base for a table furnishing or utensil, as a glass, teapot, or candlestick.
11. the part of a stocking, sock, etc., covering the foot.
12. the lowest part, or bottom, of anything, as of a hill, ladder, page, etc.
13. a supporting part; base.
14. the part of anything opposite the top or head:

    He waited patiently at the foot of the checkout line.

15. the end of a bed, grave, etc., toward which the feet are placed:

    Put the blanket at the foot of the bed, please.

16. Printing. the part of the type body that forms the sides of the groove, at the base.
17. the last, as of a series.
18. that which is written at the bottom, as the total of an account.
19. Prosody. a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit of a verse.
20. Usually foots.
    1. sediment or dregs.
    2. footlight ( def 1 ).
21. Nautical. the lower edge of a sail.

verb (used without object)

1. to walk; go on foot (often followed by it ):

   We'll have to foot it.

2. to move the feet rhythmically, as to music or in dance (often followed by it ).
3. (of vessels) to move forward; sail:

   to foot briskly across the open water.

verb (used with object)

1. to walk or dance on:

   footing the cobblestones of the old city.

2. to perform (a dance):

   cavaliers footing a galliard.

3. to traverse on or as if on foot.
4. to make or attach a foot to:

   to foot a stocking.

5. to pay or settle:

   I always end up footing the bill.

6. to add (a column of figures) and set the sum at the foot (often followed by up ).
7. to seize with talons, as a hawk.
8. to establish.
9. Archaic. to kick, especially to kick away.
10. Obsolete. to set foot on.

Foot

¹

/ fʊt /

noun

1. FootMichael (Mackintosh)19132010MBritishPOLITICS: politicianPOLITICS: statesmanWRITING: journalist Michael ( Mackintosh ). 1913–2010, British Labour politician and journalist; secretary of state for employment (1974–76); leader of the House of Commons (1976–79); leader of the Labour Party (1980–83)

foot

²

/ fʊt /

noun

1. the part of the vertebrate leg below the ankle joint that is in contact with the ground during standing and walking pedal
2. the part of a garment that covers a foot
3. any of various organs of locomotion or attachment in invertebrates, including molluscs
4. botany the lower part of some plant structures, as of a developing moss sporophyte embedded in the parental tissue
5. 1. a unit of length equal to one third of a yard or 12 inches. 1 Imperial foot is equivalent to 0.3048 metre ft
   2. any of various units of length used at different times and places, typically about 10 per cent greater than the Imperial foot
6. any part resembling a foot in form or function

   the foot of a chair

7. the lower part of something; base; bottom

   the foot of the page

   the foot of a hill

8. the end of a series or group

   the foot of the list

9. manner of walking or moving; tread; step

   a heavy foot

10. 1. infantry, esp in the British army
    2. ( as modifier )

       a foot soldier

11. any of various attachments on a sewing machine that hold the fabric in position, such as a presser foot for ordinary sewing and a zipper foot
12. music
    1. a unit used in classifying organ pipes according to their pitch, in terms of the length of an equivalent column of air
    2. this unit applied to stops and registers on other instruments
13. printing
    1. the margin at the bottom of a page
    2. the undersurface of a piece of type
14. prosody a group of two or more syllables in which one syllable has the major stress, forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
15. a foot in the door
    an action, appointment, etc, that provides an initial step towards a desired goal, esp one that is not easily attainable
16. kick with the wrong foot
    to be of the opposite religion to that which is regarded as acceptable or to that of the person who is speaking
17. my foot!
    an expression of disbelief, often of the speaker's own preceding statement

    he didn't know, my foot! Of course he did!

18. of foot archaic.
    in manner of movement

    fleet of foot

19. on foot
    1. walking or running
    2. in progress; astir; afoot
20. one foot in the grave informal.
    near to death
21. on the right foot informal.
    in an auspicious manner
22. on the wrong foot informal.
    in an inauspicious manner
23. put a foot wrong
    to make a mistake
24. put one's best foot forward
    1. to try to do one's best
    2. to hurry
25. put one's foot down informal.
    1. to act firmly
    2. to increase speed (in a motor vehicle) by pressing down on the accelerator
26. put one's foot in it informal.
    to blunder
27. set on foot
    to initiate or start (something)
28. tread under foot
    to oppress
29. under foot
    on the ground; beneath one's feet

verb

1. to dance to music (esp in the phrase foot it )
2. tr to walk over or set foot on; traverse (esp in the phrase foot it )
3. tr to pay the entire cost of (esp in the phrase foot the bill )
4. archaic.
   usually foll by up to add up

foot

/ ft /

, Plural feet fēt

1. A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 1 3 of a yard or 12 inches (30.48 centimeters).
2. See Table at measurement

Usage

In front of another noun, the plural for the unit of length is foot: a 20-foot putt; his 70-foot ketch. Foot can also be used instead of feet when mentioning a quantity and in front of words like tall: four foot of snow; he is at least six foot tall

Derived Forms

• ˈfootless, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foot¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English fōt; cognate with German Fuss; akin to Latin pēs (stem ped- ), Greek poús (stem pod- )

Word History and Origins

Origin of foot¹

Old English fōt ; related to Old Norse fōtr , Gothic fōtus , Old High German fuoz , Latin pēs , Greek pous , Sanskrit pad

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get off on the right / wrong foot, to begin favorably or unfavorably:

   He got off on the wrong foot with a tactless remark about his audience.

2. get / have / a / one's foot in the door, to succeed in achieving an initial stage or step.
3. on foot, by walking or running, rather than by riding.
4. put one's best foot forward,
   1. to attempt to make as good an impression as possible.
   2. to proceed with all possible haste; hurry.
5. put one's foot down, to take a firm stand; be decisive or determined.
6. put one's foot in / into it, Informal. to make an embarrassing blunder. Also put one's foot ininto one's mouth.
7. set foot in / on, to go on or into; enter: Also step foot inon.

   Don't set foot in this office again!

8. under foot, in the way:

   That cat is always under foot when I'm getting dinner.

9. have one foot in the grave. grave ¹( def 5 ).

More idioms and phrases containing foot

• bound hand and foot
• caught flat-footed
• get off on the wrong foot
• not touch with a ten-foot pole
• one foot in the grave
• on foot
• on the right foot
• play footsie
• put one's best foot forward
• put one's foot down
• put one's foot in it
• set foot
• shoe is on the other foot
• shoot oneself in the foot
• wait on hand and foot
• feet

Example Sentences

Small camps, usually consisting of 25-35 individuals living in homes a few feet from each other, create an environment where children can observe and interact with a wide range of people.

From Science Daily

He was 5 feet 9, 140 pounds and out of shape.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he has family members who struggled with drug addiction and homelessness for years before finding their footing, and the city can’t wait years before taking back its streets.

From Los Angeles Times

"I'd never taken a penalty with my left foot in a game before, and certainly not in a World Cup final, and certainly not in front of 90,000 people," she said.

From BBC

The prospect of paying more for consumer goods was especially unappealing after years of high inflation, which has led to a persistent feeling among many people that they’re on shaky financial footing.

From Los Angeles Times