foundation

the basis on which something is grounded; "there is little foundation for his objections"

an institution supported by an endowment

lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower"

education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge; "he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study"; "a good grounding in mathematics"

the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture"

a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body

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"