Main Entry: ¹foot

Pronunciation: \ˈfu̇t\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural feet \ˈfēt\ also foot

Etymology: Middle English fot, from Old English fōt; akin to Old High German fuot foot, Latin ped-, pes, Greek pod-, pous

Date: before 12th century

1 : the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands
2 : an invertebrate organ of locomotion or attachment; especially : a ventral muscular surface or process of a mollusk
3 : any of various units of length based on the length of the human foot; especially : a unit equal to ¹⁄₃ yard and comprising 12 inches —plural foot used between a number and a noun <a 10-foot pole> —plural feet or foot used between a number and an adjective <6 feet tall> — see weight table
4 : the basic unit of verse meter consisting of any of various fixed combinations or groups of stressed and unstressed or long and short syllables
5 a : motion or power of walking or running : step <fleet of foot> b : speed, swiftness <showed early foot>
6 : something resembling a foot in position or use: as a : the lower end of the leg of a chair or table b (1) : the basal portion of the sporophyte in mosses (2) : a specialized outgrowth by which the embryonic sporophyte especially of many bryophytes absorbs nourishment from the gametophyte c : a piece on a sewing machine that presses the cloth against the feed
7 foot plural chiefly British : infantry
8 : the lower edge (as of a sail)
9 : the lowest part : bottom <the foot of the hill>
10 a : the end that is lower or opposite the head <the foot of the bed> b : the part (as of a stocking) that covers the foot
11foots plural but sing or plural in constr : material deposited especially in aging or refining : dregs
12foots plural : footlights

— at one's feet : under one's spell or influence

— foot in the door : the initial step toward a goal

— off one's feet : in a sitting or lying position

— on foot : by walking or running <tour the campus on foot>

— on one's feet 1 : in a standing position
2 : in an established position or state
3 : in a recovered condition (as from illness) <back on my feet>
4 : in an extemporaneous manner : while in action <good debaters can think on their feet>

— to one's feet : to a standing position <brought the crowd to its feet>