cimiento

foundation

noun see-MYEN-toh Rare

Origin: Latin caementum (quarry stone, mortar) — the same root as English 'cement'.

Also means

basis

Usage Note

Cimiento (often plural cimientos) refers to the structural foundations of a building and, figuratively, the foundations of a relationship, institution, or argument (sentar los cimientos de = to lay the foundations of). The plural cimientos is far more common than the singular for the physical sense. Do not confuse with cemento (cement/concrete), which shares the etymology but refers to the material, not the structural element.

Examples

"Los cimientos del edificio son muy sólidos."

Natural Translation

The building's foundations are very solid.

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