foundation stone
A 'foundation stone' can refer to both a literal stone used in building foundations and a figurative basis for principles or ideas.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Construction
(formal)A stone placed during a ceremony to mark the beginning of a building's construction.
Example
- The mayor laid the foundation stone for the new city hall.
B2Metaphor
(figurative)An essential principle or element on which something is based.
Example
- Honesty is the foundation stone of a strong relationship.
C1Religion
(historical)A specific rock in the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, significant in Jewish and Islamic traditions.
Example
- The Foundation Stone is a revered site for both Jews and Muslims.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "foundation stone":
lay a foundationstone bubblestepping stoneset in stonecoping stonethrough stoneinfernal stonebuilding block