foot‧hold /ˈfʊthəʊld $ -hoʊld/ noun [countable]

1. a position from which you can start to make progress and achieve your aims
gain/establish a foothold
Extreme right-wing parties gained a foothold in the latest European elections.

2. a small hole or crack where you can safely put your foot when climbing a steep rock

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

foothold
noun
I. place to put your foot when climbing
ADJ. firm, secure
VERB + FOOTHOLD have | find, get, scrabble for He found a secure foothold and pulled himself up. scrabbling for a foothold on the steep grassy bank
give sb The bench gave me the foothold I needed to climb into the tree.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

foothold
II. strong position for making further progress
ADJ. firm, secure | permanent | big | small
VERB + FOOTHOLD have | establish, gain, get, obtain, secure The company is trying to gain a foothold in the European market.
maintain | lose | regain | give (sb/sth), provide (sb with) I hope the textbook will provide a foothold for students of the subject.
PREP. ~ in The firm has a firm foothold in this market.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲