Engineering English
Foundation
Civil Engineering · Energy Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The lowest part of a structure that transfers all building loads safely into the underlying soil or rock.
Example in context
“Before designing the foundation, the geotechnical engineer tested the soil to determine its safe bearing capacity.”
“Temeli tasarlamadan önce geoteknik mühendisi, zeminin güvenli taşıma kapasitesini belirlemek için zemin deneyleri yaptı.”
Where engineers use it
Foundations are the first structural elements designed and built on any project; engineers match foundation type to soil conditions, settlement limits, and structural loads before construction can begin.
Synonyms: substructure
Antonyms: superstructure
In Energy Engineering
The substructure that anchors a wind turbine to the ground or seabed. It transfers loads to the earth and ensures stability against wind, wave, and operational forces.
“The gravity-based foundation for the offshore turbine was poured in a dry dock and towed to site.”
Practice: can you use “Foundation” at work?
A house on soft clay shows cracks above its doors; explain how you would investigate whether the foundation is settling and what data you would collect.
Show a model answer
“The foundation transfers the entire weight of the building into the ground.”
“Foundation” in 21 languages
| English | Foundation |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Temel |
| French | Fondation |
| German | Fundament |
| Spanish | Cimentación |
| Chinese | 基础 |
| Arabic | أساس |
| Portuguese | Fundação |
| Russian | Фундамент |
| Japanese | 基礎 |
| Italian | Fondazione |
| Vietnamese | Móng |
| Hindi | नींव |
| Thai | ฐานราก |
| Indonesian | Pondasi |
| Korean | 기초 |
| Bengali | ভিত্তি |
| Dutch | Fundering |
| Swedish | Grund |
| Finnish | Perustus |
| Ukrainian | Фундамент |
Frequently asked questions
What does Foundation mean in engineering?
The lowest part of a structure that transfers all building loads safely into the underlying soil or rock. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Foundation?
Foundation is pronounced /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Foundation used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Before designing the foundation, the geotechnical engineer tested the soil to determine its safe bearing capacity.”
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