foundation

(noun) the basis on which something is grounded. Examples: "There is little foundation for his objections."

(noun) an institution supported by an endowment.

(noun) lowest support of a structure. Synonyms: base, fundament, foot, groundwork, substructure, understructure. Examples: "It was built on a base of solid rock." "He stood at the foot of the tower."

(noun) education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge. Synonyms: grounding. Examples: "He lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study." "A good grounding in mathematics."

(noun) the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained. Synonyms: basis, base, fundament, groundwork, cornerstone. Examples: "The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture."

(noun) a woman's undergarment worn to give shape to the contours of the body. Synonyms: foundation garment.

(noun) the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new. Synonyms: initiation, founding, institution, origination, creation, innovation, introduction, instauration. Examples: "She looked forward to her initiation as an adult." "The foundation of a new scientific society."