ˈfu̇d.]iŋ, -u̇t], ]ēŋ\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English foting, footing, from fot, foot + -ing
1. : a stable position of the feet : a surface or its condition with respect to one walking or running on it
the loose stones made the footing treacherous
specifically : the condition of a racetrack
2. : the placing of the feet so as to ensure stability
be careful of your footing up here
: ability to keep a grip with the feet on a surface so as to stay upright or move steadily forward
lost her footing and tumbled down the slope
3. : footling
4.
a. : a place or space for standing : basis for operations : foothold
a deliberate act of policy … in order to stake a claim for a footing in Morocco — Wickham Steed
b. : established position : status
finally achieved a footing at court
placing the children of a former marriage on the same footing , with regard to inheritance — Encyc. Americana
c. archaic : payment exacted informally for entering upon a new status in a trade or profession : an initiation fee — used chiefly in the phrase pay one's footing
5. : basis
negotiating on a new footing of mutual trust
put the enterprise on a firm footing
when the nation is on a war footing — Zechariah Chafee
6. : social relationship : terms of social intercourse
tribes that are on a friendly footing — Edward Sapir
throwing our ideals overboard and meeting saints and dictators on the same footing — New Statesman and Nation
7.
a. : the substructure or bottom unit of a wall or column : base
b. : the part of a structure that is in contact with the soil or rock foundation
c. : an enlargement at the lower end of a foundation wall, pier, or column to distribute the load
8.
a. : the straight side of an edging lace
b. : a very narrow lace or net used as an insertion, edging, or trimming
9. : a piece of hardwood inserted into an arrow shaft and projecting into the pile
10. : the amount or sum total of a column of figures