Meanings
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1
noun
a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe
A single muddy footprint remained beside the open window.
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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.
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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.
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4
noun
a detectable trace, presence, or sphere of activity
The charity expanded its footprint into three neighboring regions.
Thesaurus
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.