Dictionary

foundation stone en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A stone laid during the construction of a (usually important) building, the laying of which is usually marked by a ceremony.
   • He laid the foundation stone on August 1 1847, and then set around 2,000 workmen loose on the undertaking. The station opened exactly one year later on August 1 1848. 2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Chester (1848)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 58:
2. (figuratively) The basis of something.
   • England had been infamously stodgy under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, albeit as they reached the final and, if anything, Carsley needed a performance here more than a result. He certainly got that in the first half. A new era has its foundation stone. 2024 September 7, David Hytner, “Rice and Grealish start new England era with Nations League victory in Ireland”, in The Guardian:

Forms

Relateds

cornerstone

Translations (18)

ru краеуго́льный ка́мень (stone laid during construction) · fr première pierre (stone laid during construction) · da grundsten (stone laid during construction) · he אֶבֶן יְסוֹד (stone laid during construction) · it prima pietra (stone laid during construction) · bg крайъгълен камък (stone laid during construction) · fi peruskivi (stone laid during construction) · cmn 基石 (stone laid during construction) · pt primeira pedra (stone laid during construction) · nn grunnstein (stone laid during construction) · cmn 奠基石 (stone laid during construction) · he אֶבֶן שְׁתִיָּה (stone laid during construction) · he אֶבֶן פִּנָּה (stone laid during construction) · pt pedra fundamental (stone laid during construction) · yi גרונטשטיין (stone laid during construction) · nb grunnstein (stone laid during construction) · hu alapkő (stone laid during construction) · kix thāyôlòng (stone laid during construction)