cornerstone

英 ['kɔːnəstəʊn] 美 ['kɔrnɚston]

cornerstone (n.): late 13c., from corner (n.) + stone (n.). The figurative use is from early 14c.
I endorse without reserve the much abused sentiment of Governor M'Duffie, that "Slavery is the corner-stone of our republican edifice;" while I repudiate, as ridiculously absurd, that much lauded but nowhere accredited dogma of Mr. Jefferson, that "all men are born equal." No society has ever yet existed, and I have already incidentally quoted the highest authority to show that none ever will exist, without a natural variety of classes. [James H. Hammond, "Letter to an English Abolitionist" 1845]

1. This study is the cornerstone of the whole research programme.: 此项研究是整个研究计划的基础。

2. Wage control is the cornerstone of the government's economic policy.: 控制工资是政府经济政策的基础.

4. The doctrine of surplus value is the cornerstone of Marx's economic theory.: 剩余价值学说是马克思经济理论的基石.

5. The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality.: 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石.