foothold   (Sound)

The noun foothold has 3 senses

• bridgehead, foothold -- (an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies; "an attempt to secure a bridgehead behind enemy lines"; "the only foothold left for British troops in Europe was Gibraltar")


• foothold, footing -- (a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing)


• beachhead, foothold -- (an initial accomplishment that opens the way for further developments; "the town became a beachhead in the campaign to ban smoking outdoors"; "they are presently attempting to gain a foothold in the Russian market")