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foul
[foul]
adjective
grossly offensive to the senses; disgustingly loathsome; noisome.
a foul smell.
Synonyms: ,Antonyms:containing or characterized by offensive or noisome matter.
foul air; foul stagnant water.
Synonyms: , ,filthy or dirty, as places, receptacles, clothes, etc.
Synonyms: , ,Antonyms:muddy, as a road.
clogged or obstructed with foreign matter.
a foul gas jet.
Antonyms:unfavorable or stormy.
foul weather.
Synonyms: ,Antonyms:contrary, violent, or unfavorable, as the wind.
Synonyms:grossly offensive in a moral sense.
abominable, wicked, or vile, as deeds, crime, slander, etc.
Synonyms: , ,scurrilous, profane, or obscene; offensive.
foul language.
Synonyms: , , ,contrary to the rules or established usages, as of a sport or game; unfair.
a foul blow.
Baseball.pertaining to a foul ball or a foul line.
limited in freedom of movement by obstruction, entanglement, etc..
a foul anchor.
abounding in errors or in marks of correction, as a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like.
Nautical.
(of the underwater portion of a hull) encrusted and impeded with barnacles, seaweed, etc.
(of a mooring place) involving inconveniences and dangers, as of colliding with vessels or other objects when swinging with the tide.
(of the bottom of a body of water) affording a poor hold for an anchor (clean ).
North England and Scot..not fair; ugly or unattractive.
Obsolete.disfigured.
adverb
in a foul manner; vilely; unfairly.
Baseball.into foul territory; so as to be foul.
It looked like a homer when he hit it, but it went foul.
noun
something that is foul.
a collision or entanglement.
a foul between two racing sculls.
a violation of the rules of a sport or game.
The referee called it a foul.
Baseball.foul ball.
verb (used with object)
to make foul; defile; soil.
Synonyms: , , , , ,Antonyms:to clog or obstruct, as a chimney or the bore of a gun.
to collide with.
to cause to become entangled or caught, as a rope.
to defile; dishonor; disgrace.
His reputation had been fouled by unfounded accusations.
Synonyms:Nautical.(of barnacles, seaweed, etc.) to cling to (a hull) so as to encumber.
Baseball.to hit (a pitched ball) foul (often followed by off oraway ).
He fouled off two curves before being struck out on a fastball.
verb (used without object)
to become foul.
Nautical.to come into collision, as two boats.
to become entangled or clogged.
The rope fouled.
Sports.to make a foul play; give a foul blow.
Baseball.to hit a foul ball.
verb phrase
Informalto cause confusion or disorder; bungle; spoil.
Baseballto be put out by hitting a foul ball caught on the fly by a player on the opposing team.
Basketballto be expelled from a game for having committed more fouls than is allowed.
foul
/ ڲʊ /
adjective
offensive to the senses; revolting
offensive in odour; stinking
charged with or full of dirt or offensive matter; filthy
(of food) putrid; rotten
morally or spiritually offensive; wicked; vile
obscene; vulgar
foul language
not in accordance with accepted standards or established rules; unfair
to resort to foul means
(esp of weather) unpleasant or adverse
blocked or obstructed with dirt or foreign matter
a foul drain
entangled or impeded
a foul anchor
(of the bottom of a vessel) covered with barnacles and other growth that slow forward motion
informalunsatisfactory or uninteresting; bad
a foul book
archaicugly
noun
sport
a violation of the rules
( as modifier )
a foul shot
a foul blow
something foul
an entanglement or collision, esp in sailing or fishing
verb
to make or become dirty or polluted
to become or cause to become entangled or snarled
(tr) to disgrace or dishonour
to become or cause to become clogged or choked
(tr) nautical (of underwater growth) to cling to (the bottom of a vessel) so as to slow its motion
(tr) sport to commit a foul against (an opponent)
(tr) baseball to hit (a ball) in an illegal manner
(intr) sport to infringe the rules
(tr) (of an animal, especially a dog) to defecate on
do not let your dog foul the footpath
to collide with (a boat, etc)
adverb
in a foul or unfair manner
to come into conflict with
nautical to come into collision with
Other 51Թ Forms
- foully adverb
- overfoul adjective
- overfoully adverb
- overfoulness noun
- unfoul adjective
- unfoully adverb
- unfouled adjective
- ˈڴdzܱ adverb
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of foul1
Idioms and Phrases
run foul / afoul of, to come into collision or controversy with.
to run foul of the press.
foul one's nest, to dishonor one's own home, family, or the like.
fall foul / afoul of,
to collide with, as ships.
to come into conflict with; quarrel.
to make an attack; assault.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Since the crash, a foul, acrid smell has hung over the area as smoke billowed from the wreckage late into the night.
Brentford fouled far less than Spurs across the past two seasons - indeed, only Manchester City committed fewer fouls than Brentford last season.
Munich police are investigating but said there was "no evidence to suggest foul play".
“It’s not going to be amazing or anything, but I think at times it’s getting a little bit of life on it, making making guys foul some pitches get jammed a little bit.”
The following day, “60 Minutes” aired the most forceful part of her answer, prompting conservatives to cry foul.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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