foot

foot [foot]

n.

pl. feet [ME fot < OE, akin to Ger fuss < IE * pōd-, var. of base * pēd-, foot, to go > Sans pad-, Gr pous, L pes]

1. the end part of the leg, on which a person or animal stands or moves

2. a thing like a foot in some way; specif.,

a) the part that a thing stands on; base

b) the lowest part; bottom [the foot of a page]

c) the last of a series [go to the foot of the line]

d) the part of a sewing machine that holds the cloth steady

e) the part of the body of a mollusk that is normally muscular and ventrally located, used for attachment, burrowing, and locomotion, or, as in cephalopods, serving as the basis for the arms, tentacles, eyes, and mouth

3. the end of a bed, grave, etc. toward which the feet are directed

4. the end opposite to the end designated the head [at the foot of the table]

5. the part of a stocking, boot, etc. that covers the foot

6. a unit of length in the FPS system, equal to 12 inches or ¹/ ₃ yard (0.3048 meter): symbol, ′: abbrev. ft: pl. sometimes foot following a number [ 50 foot of lumber ] and always in attributive use [ a six- foot athlete ]

7. [with pl. v.] Brit. foot soldiers; infantry foots

8. the sediment in a liquid usually used in pl.

9. a group of syllables serving as a unit of meter in verse; esp., such a unit having a specified placement of the stressed syllable or syllables

vi.

1.

a) to dance

b) to go on foot: now rare exc. in phr. foot it: see below

2. to move ahead, esp. with speed: said of a sailboat

vt.

1. to walk, dance, or run on, over, or through; tread

2. to make or repair the foot of (a stocking, etc.)

3. to add (a column of figures) and set down a total: often with up

☆ 4. Informal to pay (costs, expenses, etc.) [to foot the bill]

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foot it

Informal to dance, walk, or run

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of foot

in walking or running [swift of foot]

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on foot

1. walking or running

2. going on; in process

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on the wrong foot

in an inept or unfavorable way at the very beginning

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put one's best foot forward Informal

1. to do the best that one can

2. to try to appear at one's best

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put one's foot down

Informal to be firm; act decisively

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put one's foot in it or put one's foot in in one's mouth

Informal to make an embarrassing or troublesome blunder

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under foot

1. on the surface of the ground; on the floor, etc.

2. in the way

USAGE- For phrases using feet, see FEET