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footing

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noun [singular] British English pronunciation: footing /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
  1. 1
    a firm position for your feet on a surface, especially one that is difficult to stand on or walk across
    keep/lose/miss your footing:

    She lost her footing and tumbled into the river.

  2. 2
    the basic conditions in which something operates or develops
    on a sound/secure/firm/strong footing:

    The railway system must be placed on a sound financial footing.

    on a war footing (=ready to fight a war):

    The army is now officially on a war footing.

    1. a.
      the position of one person, group, or thing in relation to another
      on an equal footing (with):

      Smaller economies cannot compete on an equal footing with larger nations.

      on the same footing (as):

      European negotiators insisted on being treated on the same footing as the Americans.

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