laying of the foundation stone
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laying of the foundation stone
A ceremonial event in which the first stone (the foundation stone) for a new building is laid, marking the official start of construction.
Zur Grundsteinlegung für die neue Schule kamen viele Politiker und Bürger.
Many politicians and citizens came to the laying of the foundation stone for the new school.
The word consists of 'Grundstein' (the first stone of a foundation) and 'Legung' (from the verb 'legen', to lay). So it literally describes the act of laying the foundation stone.
Die Grundsteinlegung markiert den offiziellen Beginn der Bauarbeiten.
The laying of the foundation stone marks the official start of construction work.
To say what the foundation stone is being laid for, use the preposition 'für' followed by the accusative.
Heute ist die Grundsteinlegung für das neue Museum.
Today is the laying of the foundation stone for the new museum.
The 'Grundsteinlegung' (laying of the foundation stone) is more than just a construction phase. It is a ceremonial, public act, often with guests from politics and society, to symbolically celebrate the start of construction.
Der Bürgermeister hielt bei der Grundsteinlegung eine Rede.
The mayor gave a speech at the laying of the foundation stone.
groundbreaking ceremony / spade thrust
Spatenstich and Grundsteinlegung are both ceremonial acts marking the official start of a construction project. At a Spatenstich, soil is symbolically dug up with a spade. At a Grundsteinlegung, by contrast, the first stone of the building is laid.
Bei der Grundsteinlegung setzte die Bürgermeisterin den ersten Stein für das neue Rathaus.
At the foundation stone ceremony, the mayor laid the first stone for the new town hall.
Beim ersten Spatenstich hob die Bürgermeisterin etwas Erde für das neue Rathaus aus.
At the first groundbreaking ceremony, the mayor dug up some soil for the new town hall.
