footprint

B2 Topic:Environment & Ecology

US /ˈfʊtˌprɪnt/ UK /ˈfʊtprɪnt/ See IPA manual

Freq #14400

Meanings

1

noun
a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe

A single muddy footprint remained beside the open window.
2

noun
the amount of ground or floor space occupied by a building, machine, or object

The redesigned server has a smaller footprint than the old model.
3

noun
the effect that a person, activity, or product has on the environment

Taking the train can reduce the carbon footprint of the journey.
4

noun
a detectable trace, presence, or sphere of activity

The charity expanded its footprint into three neighboring regions.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a mark or impression left... footmark track impression

2 noun · the amount of ground or... ground areafloor area

3 noun · the effect that a person,... environmental impact

4 noun · a detectable trace,... trace presence reach

Word family

Derived forms footprintedfootprinting

Related forms foot print carbon footprint

Etymology

A compound of foot + print, first naming the impression made by a foot. The spatial sense treats the ground covered by an object as its print; the environmental and organizational senses extend the image to a measurable effect, trace, or area of influence.

Topics

Environment & Ecology General Vocabulary

External links

# footprint

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈfʊtˌprɪnt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfʊtprɪnt/
**Frequency rank:** 14400

## Meanings
1. a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe
2. the amount of ground or floor space occupied by a building, machine, or object
3. the effect that a person, activity, or product has on the environment
4. a detectable trace, presence, or sphere of activity

## Examples
- A single muddy footprint remained beside the open window.
- The redesigned server has a smaller footprint than the old model.
- Taking the train can reduce the carbon footprint of the journey.
- The charity expanded its footprint into three neighboring regions.

## Synonyms
- footmark
- track
- impression
- trace
- presence

## Derived Forms
- footprinted
- footprinting

## Related Forms
- foot
- print
- carbon footprint

## Etymology
A compound of foot + print, first naming the impression made by a foot. The spatial sense treats the ground covered by an object as its print; the environmental and organizational senses extend the image to a measurable effect, trace, or area of influence.

## Topics
- Environment & Ecology
- General Vocabulary

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