a mark left by the shod or unshod foot, as in earth or sand.
an impression of the sole of a person's foot, especially one taken for purposes of identification.
Informal. the track of a tire, especially on wet pavement.
a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc., that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification: Be careful when you post on social media—your online footprint could harm your reputation.The tumors share the same genetic footprint.
the area affected by an increase in the level of sound or noise, as that generated by an airplane.
Telecommunications. the area of the earth's surface within which a communications satellite's signals can be received.
Aerospace. the area within which it is predicted that a spacecraft or its debris will land.
the surface space of a desk or tabletop occupied by a piece of equipment, especially a computer or other electronic device.
the surface area occupied by any structure, device, etc.: The new store will have a large footprint.
the impact that humans have on the environment, especially in the utilization of natural resources: China's water footprint;ways to reduce our environmental footprint.
any impact or effect, or its scope: the company’s wide footprint across Puerto Rico.
Also called ecological footprint . the amount of biologically productive land and ocean area required to sustain the resource consumption and waste production of an individual, population, or human activity: measured in global acres or hectares.
Computers. the amount of memory or disk space required by a program.
Origin of footprint
First recorded in 1545–55; foot + print
Words nearby footprint
foot-pound, foot-poundal, foot-pound-second, foot-pound-second system, foot presentation, footprint, footprints on the sands of time, foot process, footrace, foot rail, foot reflexology
In the next arroyo they found a footprint deeply marked in a bed of sand.
With Hoops of Steel|Florence Finch Kelly
Pascualo went hunting through the streets on either side, but he could not find even a footprint.
Mayflower (Flor de mayo)|Vicente Blasco Ibez
Presently the bean half sprouted, and the sprout split the stone athwart and rent the footprint of the hero.
The Book of Gud|Dan Spain
If this chamois guard hears the slightest sound or discovers even a footprint, he at once gives an alarm.
Our Little Swiss Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Elated, Gilbert hurried on, pausing occasionally to verify his conviction by a footprint in the caked earth.
Tom Slade's Double Dare|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
British Dictionary definitions for footprint
footprint
/ (ˈfʊtˌprɪnt) /
noun
an indentation or outline of the foot of a person or animal on a surface
the shape and size of the area something occupiesenlarging the footprint of the building; a computer with a small footprint
impact on the environment
a military presencesince 1944, America's military footprint in Europe has been in the West
computingthe amount of resources, such as disk space and memory, that an application requiresSee also electronic footprint
an identifying characteristic on land or water, such as the area in which an aircraft's sonic boom can be heard or the area covered by the down-blast of a hovercraft
the area in which the signal from a direct broadcasting satellite is receivable