Foot vs. Feet: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Foot" is a singular noun for the lower extremity of the leg or a unit of measurement (12 inches), while "feet" is its plural form, referring to multiple such extremities or units.
Key Differences
The word "foot" refers to the lower part of the leg below the ankle in humans and some animals. "Feet" is simply the plural form of "foot," used when referring to more than one foot. Both terms are essential in describing anatomy and movement.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
In measurement, a "foot" is a unit equal to 12 inches, commonly used in the imperial system. "Feet" is used to denote multiple units of this measurement. While "foot" quantifies a singular dimension, "feet" is used for larger measurements.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
The term "foot" also represents the base or bottom of an object. In contrast, "feet" can refer to multiple bases or supports of various items. Each term helps in spatially orienting or describing objects.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
"Foot" can be a part of various idioms and expressions in English, like "foot the bill." "Feet," in similar linguistic usage, appears in phrases like "cold feet." Both are embedded in language beyond their literal meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
In poetry, "foot" denotes a basic unit of meter or rhythm. "Feet" in this context refers to multiple such units in a verse. Both terms are integral to the study and composition of poetry.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Linguistic Context
Singular base or part of idioms
Plural bases or in plural expressions
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Foot and Feet Definitions
Feet
Plural form of foot in measurement.
The bridge spans 300 feet across the river.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Feet
Plural form in poetic meter.
The verse had five feet of iambic pentameter.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Foot
To pay or settle a bill (idiomatic).
He offered to foot the bill for dinner.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Feet
Plural of foot, referring to lower extremities.
The baby stood on her feet for the first time.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Foot
The lower extremity of the vertebrate leg that is in direct contact with the ground in standing or walking.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Feet
Multiple bases or supports of objects.
The table has four feet for stability.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Foot
A structure used for locomotion or attachment in an invertebrate animal, such as the muscular organ extending from the ventral side of a mollusk.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Feet
Expressing hesitation or reluctance (idiomatic, "cold feet").
She got cold feet before the performance.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Foot
The lowest part; the bottom:the foot of a mountain; the foot of a page.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The end opposite the head, top, or front:the foot of a bed; the foot of a parade.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The termination of the leg of a piece of furniture, especially when shaped or modeled.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(Printing)The part of a type body that forms the sides of the groove at the base.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Speed or momentum, as in a race:"the only other Democrats who've demonstrated any foot till now"(Michael Kramer).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A unit of poetic meter consisting of stressed and unstressed syllables in any of various set combinations. For example, an iambic foot has an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
In classical quantitative verse, a unit of meter consisting of long and short syllables in any of various set combinations.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Abbr. ft. or ftA unit of length in the US Customary and British Imperial systems equal to 12 inches (0.3048 meter). See Table at measurement.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
FootsSediment that forms during the refining of oil and other liquids; dregs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To go on foot; walk. Often used with it:When their car broke down, they had to foot it the rest of the way.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To dance. Often used with it:"We foot it all the night / weaving olden dances"(William Butler Yeats).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To add up (a column of numbers) and write the sum at the bottom; total:footed up the bill.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg.
A spider has eight feet.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(anatomy) Specifically, a human foot, which is found below the ankle and is used for standing and walking.
Southern Italy is shaped like a foot.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(often used attributively) Travel by walking.
We went there by foot because we could not afford a taxi.
There is a lot of foot traffic on this street.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The base or bottom of anything.
I'll meet you at the foot of the stairs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The part of a flat surface on which the feet customarily rest.
We came and stood at the foot of the bed.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The end of a rectangular table opposite the head.
The host should sit at the foot of the table.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A short foot-like projection on the bottom of an object to support it.
The feet of the stove hold it a safe distance above the floor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A unit of measure equal to twelve inches or one third of a yard, equal to exactly 30.48 centimetres.
The flag pole at the local high school is about 20 feet high.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(music) A unit of measure for organ pipes equal to the wavelength of two octaves above middle C, approximately 328 mm.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Foot soldiers; infantry.
King John went to battle with ten thousand foot and one thousand horse.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(cigars) The end of a cigar which is lit, and usually cut before lighting.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(sewing) The part of a sewing machine which presses downward on the fabric, and may also serve to move it forward.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(printing) The base of a piece of type, forming the sides of the groove.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(phonology) The parsing of syllables into prosodic constituents, which are used to determine the placement of stress in languages along with the notions of constituent heads.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(nautical) The bottom edge of a sail.
To make the mainsail fuller in shape, the outhaul is eased to reduce the tension on the foot of the sail.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(billiards) The end of a billiard or pool table behind the foot point where the balls are racked.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(botany) In a bryophyte, that portion of a sporophyte which remains embedded within and attached to the parent gametophyte plant.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(malacology) The muscular part of a bivalve mollusc or a gastropod by which it moves or holds its position on a surface.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
(geometry) The point of intersection of one line with another that is perpendicular to it.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To sum up, as the numbers in a column; sometimes with up.
To foot (or foot up) an account
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain, column, or page; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed; ; the foot of the page.
And now at footOf heaven's ascent they lift their feet.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Fundamental principle; basis; plan; - used only in the singular.
Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Recognized condition; rank; footing; - used only in the singular.
As to his being on the foot of a servant.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To set on foot; to establish; to land.
What confederacy have you with the traitorsLate footed in the kingdom?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To sum up, as the numbers in a column; - sometimes with up; as, to foot (or foot up) an account.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
To renew the foot of, as of a stocking.
If you are for a merry jaunt, I'll try, for once, who can foot it farthest.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A linear unit of length equal to 12 inches or a third of a yard;
He is six feet tall
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The foot of a human being;
His bare feet projected from his trousers
Armored from head to foot
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
The lower part of anything;
Curled up on the foot of the bed
The foot of the page
The foot of the list
The foot of the mountain
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A support resembling a pedal extremity;
One foot of the chair was on the carpet
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Lowest support of a structure;
It was built on a base of solid rock
He stood at the foot of the tower
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
An army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot;
There came ten thousand horsemen and as many fully-armed foot
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
A member of a surveillance team who works on foot or rides as a passenger
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Pay for something;
Pick up the tab
Pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
Foot the bill
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Foot
Lower part of the leg below the ankle in humans.
She injured her foot while hiking.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Foot
A unit of rhythm in poetry.
The poem's foot consisted of two syllables.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does feet refer to in measurement?
The plural of foot, more than one unit of 12 inches.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can foot also mean to pay a bill?
Yes, in the idiomatic phrase "to foot the bill."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
What is the etymology of foot and feet?
Originating from Old English "fōt" (foot) and "fēt" (feet).
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Is foot ever used in plural contexts?
No, "feet" is the correct plural form.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are foot and feet interchangeable?
No, they're used based on singular or plural context.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
How do foot and feet differ in construction terminology?
"Foot" refers to a single unit, "feet" to multiple units in measuring length.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
How are foot and feet used in anatomy?
"Foot" for one, "feet" for both or more than one.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
What are 'flat feet' in medical terms?
A condition where the arches of the feet are flattened.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
How do foot and feet relate to shoe sizes?
Shoe sizes are based on the length of the foot in inches or centimeters.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are foot and feet used differently in sports?
Yes, depending on singular or plural reference to the player's feet.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
How do foot and feet differ in idiomatic use?
"Foot" is used in singular idioms, "feet" in plural or specific phrases like "cold feet."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can foot refer to the end of a bed or item?
Yes, as the lower part or base.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Hifza Nasir
Shumaila Saeed
