foot

noun (plural feet fi:t)

1》 the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person or animal stands or walks.

    ↘literary manner or speed of walking or running: fleet of foot.

    ↘[treated as plural] Brit. infantry; foot soldiers.

2》 a projecting part on which a piece of furniture or each of its legs stands.

3》 the lower or lowest part of something vertical; the base or bottom.

    ↘the end of a table furthest from the host.

    ↘the end of a bed where the occupant's feet normally rest.

4》 a unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm).

5》 Prosody a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit.

6》 Music a unit used in classifying sets of organ pipes or harpsichord strings by their pitch.

7》 a device on a sewing machine for holding the material steady as it is sewn.

verb

1》 informal pay (a bill, especially a large or unreasonable one).

2》 (foot it) cover a distance, especially a long one, on foot.

    ↘archaic dance.

Phrases

feet first with the feet in front.

↘dead, as in a coffin.

feet of clay a fundamental flaw or weakness in a person otherwise revered.

get (or start) off on the right (or wrong) foot make a good (or bad) start at something.

have (or keep) one's feet on the ground be (or remain) practical and sensible.

have (or get) a foot in the door have (or gain) a first introduction to a profession or organization.

have one foot in the grave humorous be very old or ill.

my foot! informal said to express strong contradiction.

on (or by) foot walking rather than travelling by car or using other transport.

put one's best foot forward begin with as much effort and determination as possible.

put one's foot down informal

1》 adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition or disobedience.

2》 Brit. accelerate a motor vehicle by pressing the accelerator pedal.

put one's foot in it informal say or do something tactless or embarrassing.

put a foot wrong [usu. with negative] make a mistake.

set something on foot archaic set an action or process in motion.

under one's feet in one's way.

under foot on the ground.

Derivatives

footless adjective

Origin

OE fōt, of Gmc origin.