fut n. & v. --n. (pl. feet) 1 a
the lower
extremity of the
leg below the
ankle. b the
part of a sock etc.
covering the foot. 2 a the lower or lowest part of
anything, e.g. a
mountain, a page, stairs, etc. b the lower
end of a
table. c the end of a
bed where the user's
feet normally rest. 3 the base,
often projecting, of anything extending vertically. 4 a
step, pace, or
tread; a
manner of
walking (fleet of foot). 5 (pl. feet or foot) a
unit of
linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm). 6
Prosody a a
group of syllables (one usu. stressed) constituting a
metrical unit. b a
similar unit of
speech etc. 7
Brit.
hist.
infantry (a
regiment of foot). 8 Zool. the
locomotive or
adhesive organ of invertebrates. 9
Bot. the part by
which a
petal is attached. 10 a
device on a
sewing-machine for holding the
material steady as it is
sewn. 11 (pl. foots) a dregs;
oil refuse. b
coarse sugar. --v.tr. 1 (usu. as foot it) a
traverse (esp. a long distance) by foot. b
dance. 2 pay (a bill,
esp.
one considered large). øat a person's feet as a person's
disciple or
subject. feet of
clay a
fundamental weakness in a
person otherwise revered. foot-and-mouth
disease a
contagious viral disease of
cattle etc. foot-fault (in lawn tennis)
incorrect placement of the feet
while serving. foot-pound the
amount of
energy required to
raise 1 lb. a
distance of 1 foot. foot-pound-second
system a system of
measurement with these as
basic units. foot-rot a bacterial disease of the feet in
sheep and cattle. foot-rule a
ruler 1 foot long. foot-soldier a
soldier who fights on foot.
get one's feet
wet begin to
participate.
have one's (or both) feet on the ground be
practical. have a foot in the
door have a
prospect of
success. have one foot in the grave be
near death or
very old. my foot! int. expressing
strong contradiction.
not put a foot
wrong make no mistakes.
off one's feet so as to be
unable to
stand, or in a
state compared with
this (was rushed off my feet). on foot walking, not riding etc. put one's
best foot
forward make
every effort;
proceed with
determination. put one's feet up colloq.
take a rest. put one's foot down colloq. 1 be firmly
insistent or repressive. 2
accelerate a
motor vehicle. put one's foot in it colloq.
commit a
blunder or
indiscretion. set foot on (or in)
enter; go
into. set on foot put (an
action, process, etc.) in
motion.
under one's feet in the
way. under foot on the ground. øøfooted adj. (also in comb.). footless adj. [OE fot f. Gmc]