foul

³foul

verb

Definition of FOUL

intransitive verb

1

: to become or be foul: as a : decompose, rot b : to become encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance c : to become entangled or come into collision

2

: to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game

3

: to hit a foul ball

transitive verb

1

: to make foul: as a : to make dirty : pollute b : to tangle or come into collision with c : to encrust with a foreign substance <a ship's bottom fouled with barnacles> d : obstruct, block

2

: dishonor, discredit

3

: to commit a foul against

4

: to hit (a baseball) foul

Examples of FOUL

1. pollutants that foul the air
2. She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
3. He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
4. He kept fouling pitches into the stands.

First Known Use of FOUL

before 12th century

Related to FOUL

Synonyms: befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, distain [archaic], dirty, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

Antonyms: clean, cleanse

Related Words: contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; discolor; confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle; colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]

Near Antonyms: decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up); straighten (up), tidy (up)

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide