Dictionary

1foul

adjective \ˈfa(-ə)l\

: very unpleasant to taste or smell

: morally bad : very evil

: very bad or unpleasant

Full Definition of FOUL

1
a :  offensive to the senses :  loathsome
b :  filled or covered with offensive matter
2
:  full of dirt or mud
3
a :  morally or spiritually odious :  detestable <a foul crime>
b :  notably unpleasant or distressing :  wretched, horrid <in a foul mood>
4
:  obscene, abusive <foul language>
5
a :  being wet and stormy
b :  obstructive to navigation <a foul tide>
6
dial British :  homely, ugly
7
a :  treacherous, dishonorable <fair means or foul>
b :  constituting an infringement of rules in a game or sport <a foul blow in boxing>
8
:  containing marked-up corrections <a foul manuscript> <foul proofs>
9
:  encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance <the chimney was foul and smoked badly>
10
:  being odorous and impure :  polluted <foul air>
11
:  placed in a situation that impedes physical movement :  entangled
12
:  being outside the foul lines in baseball
foul·ly \ˈfa(l)-lē\ adverb
foul·ness noun
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Origin of FOUL

Middle English, from Old English fūl; akin to Old High German fūl rotten, Latin pus pus, putēre to stink, Greek pyon pus
First Known Use: before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of FOUL

dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it <a dirty littered street>. filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears <a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy>. foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking <a foul-smelling open sewer>. nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness <it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat>. In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable <had a nasty fall> <his answer gave her a nasty shock>. squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect <squalid slums>. All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness <don't ask me to do your dirty work>, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior <filthy street language> <a foul story of lust and greed>, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness <a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor>. Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness <engaged in a series of squalid affairs>.

2foul

noun

sports : an action that is against the rules and for which a player is given a penalty

baseball : a batted ball that lands outside the foul lines : a foul ball

Full Definition of FOUL

1
archaic :  something foul
2
:  an entanglement or collision especially in angling or sailing
3
a :  an infringement of the rules in a game or sport
b :  free throw
4
:  foul ball

First Known Use of FOUL

before 12th century

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

Rhymes with FOUL

3foul

verb

: to make (a substance, place, etc.) dirty

sports : to commit a foul

: to commit a foul against (another player)

Full 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
3
:  to commit a foul against
4
:  to hit (a baseball) foul

First Known Use of FOUL

before 12th century

4foul

adverb

Definition of FOUL

:  in a foul manner :  so as to be foul

First Known Use of FOUL

13th century
FOUL Defined for Kids

1foul

adjective \ˈfal\
foul·erfoul·est

Definition of FOUL for Kids

1
:  disgusting in looks, taste, or smell <In the warm months, a foul odor rose … — Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux>
2
:  full of or covered with something that pollutes <foul air>
3
:  being vulgar or insulting <foul language>
4
:  being wet and stormy <foul weather>
5
:  very unfair <She would even use foul methods to get what she wanted.>
6
:  very unpleasant or bad <a foul mood>
7
:  breaking a rule in a game or sport <The boxer was warned for using a foul punch.>
8
:  being outside the foul lines <He hit a foul ball.>

2foul

noun

Definition of FOUL for Kids

1
:  a ball in baseball that is batted outside the foul lines
2
:  an act of breaking the rules in a game or sport

3foul

verb
fouledfoul·ing

Definition of FOUL for Kids

1
:  to make or become foul or filthy <foul the air> <foul a stream>
2
:  to make a foul in a game
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