foot
foot — noun
- footsingular
- feetplural
1. either of the two flat body parts on the lower end of your legs, used for standi
either of the two flat body parts on the lower end of your legs, used for standing, walking, and running. Each foot has five toes at the front and a heel at the back.
Mei hurt her foot when she stepped on a sharp stone at the beach.
possessive + foot + body context
The doctor asked Noor to move her foot in circles to check her ankle.
Ryan's feet were freezing after walking home through the snow without boots.
Ishaan took off his shoes and soaked his sore feet in warm water.
The kitten had a tiny cut on its front foot from a piece of glass.
- head
opposite end of the body
文法句型
my/his/her/its foot
both feet
用法筆記
The plural 'feet' is irregular — never add -s. You 'stand on your feet' but 'rest your foot' when referring to just one.
常見錯誤
2. travel or movement done by walking rather than by using a vehicle. Used especial
travel or movement done by walking rather than by using a vehicle. Used especially in the fixed expression 'on foot'.
Instead of taking a taxi, Nia decided to visit the old town on foot.
phrase: 'on foot' contrasting with vehicle
The hotel is only a ten-minute walk from the station, so Elena goes there on foot.
On foot, it takes about twenty minutes to cross the historic district.
Putri prefers to explore new neighbourhoods on foot rather than by bus.
- walking
more common in everyday speech; 'on foot' is slightly more formal
文法句型
on foot
by foot
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'on foot'. 'By foot' is also possible but less common. You cannot use 'on foot' with a possessive (not 'on my foot' for this meaning).
常見錯誤
3. a unit used in the US and UK for measuring length. One foot equals 12 inches or
a unit used in the US and UK for measuring length. One foot equals 12 inches or about 30 centimetres. Often written with the symbol ′.
Dahlia is five feet tall and can just reach the top shelf.
height measurement with 'feet'
The swimming pool is twelve feet deep at the far end.
Linh bought a six-foot-long wooden board for the bookshelf.
The Christmas tree in the town square is nearly thirty feet high.
文法句型
[number] foot/feet [adjective]
[number]-foot [noun]
用法筆記
When used before a noun as a compound adjective, the singular 'foot' is used (e.g. a ten-foot pole). When used after a verb, 'feet' is the standard plural (e.g. the pole is ten feet long).
常見錯誤
4. the lowest part or the end of something, opposite to the top or head. Can refer
the lowest part or the end of something, opposite to the top or head. Can refer to the bottom of a mountain, the lower end of a bed, or the end of a list.
Walid signed his name at the foot of the letter, below the main text.
phrase: 'at the foot of [document]'
Mei placed the heavy suitcase at the foot of the hotel bed.
A small village sits at the foot of the mountain, just above the river.
Noor always keeps a glass of water at the foot of her bed at night.
文法句型
at the foot of [noun]
the foot of [noun]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'the foot of the [mountain / bed / stairs / page / list]'. This sense cannot be used for living things — for a person, use 'feet' (body part sense).
5. a basic unit of rhythm in poetry. Each foot contains one strong beat (stressed s
a basic unit of rhythm in poetry. Each foot contains one strong beat (stressed syllable) and one or two weak beats (unstressed syllables). The pattern of feet gives a poem its rhythm.
Each line of the sonnet has five feet, usually with an iambic rhythm.
count: 'five feet per line'
Nikos counted the feet in the verse to understand the poem's rhythm.
Talia drew a line between each poetic foot on the whiteboard while the class watched.
The teacher showed the class how to mark each foot in a short poem by Robert Frost.
文法句型
[number] feet per line
iambic/anapestic foot
用法筆記
A technical term in literary analysis. The most common patterns are iambic (weak-strong), trochaic (strong-weak), anapestic (weak-weak-strong), and dactylic (strong-weak-weak).
foot — verb
- footpresent simple I / you / we / they
- foots3rd person singular
- footing-ing form
- footedpast simple
1. to pay for something, especially a meal at a restaurant, a celebration, or a sha
to pay for something, especially a meal at a restaurant, a celebration, or a shared expense. Almost always used in the phrase 'foot the bill'.
Ryan's father footed the bill for the whole family reunion dinner.
collocation: 'footed the bill for [event]'
The company footed the bill for all employees to attend the training course.
Elena generously offered to foot the bill for the team's celebratory lunch.
Who is going to foot the bill for the expensive repairs to the roof?
文法句型
foot the bill (for [something])
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed expression 'foot the bill'. You cannot say 'foot the check' or 'foot the cost' in standard English. The subject is typically a person, organisation, or company that pays.
常見錯誤
2. to walk or travel somewhere on foot, especially when the journey is long or when
to walk or travel somewhere on foot, especially when the journey is long or when you had expected to travel by vehicle
When the car broke down, we had to foot it all the way back to the village.
phrase: 'foot it' for walking
Nia missed the last bus and had to foot it home through the rain.
The hikers footed along the narrow path in the morning mist.
We missed the last ferry and had to foot it along the coast road.
- walk
the standard modern verb; 'foot' is dated or playful
文法句型
foot it
foot + adverbial
用法筆記
This verb is old-fashioned or humorous in modern English. The phrase 'foot it' is the most common form. The regular verb 'walk' is far more natural in everyday speech.