foulfoul1 /faʊl/ ●●○ adjective 
He woke up with a foul taste in his mouth. a pile of foul-smelling garbage He put down his mug of foul-tasting coffee.► see thesaurus at horrible2in a foul mood/temper British English in a very bad temper and likely to get angry: The argument with his mother left Putt in a foul mood.3air/water very dirty: Refugees in the camps are short of food and at risk from foul water. extractor fans to remove foul air from the tunnel4foul language rude and offensive words: She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.5weather especially British English foul weather is stormy and windy, with a lot of rain or snow: Always carry foul weather gear when you go out walking.—foully adverb—foulness noun [uncountable] → by fair means or foul at fair1(11), → fall foul of somebody/something at fall1(15)
WORD ORIGINfoul1
Origin:
Old English fulEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- foul deeds
- A foul haze of pollution hung over the city.
- a pile of foul-smelling garbage
- Residents have complained of foul odors from the factory.
- Sanchez hit three foul balls before connecting with a line drive to right field.
- the foul air of the factory
- The foul haze of pollution has meant an increase in asthma cases.
- There was a foul smell coming up from the river.
- Supposing aunt sees us, said G.P. Barber's got the foulest reputation in Cornwall.
THESAURUStaste/smell
very bad and unpleasant: · What’s that horrible smell?· This fish tastes horrible.
horrible, especially in a way that makes you feel slightly sick: · I had to take two spoons of some disgusting medicine.· The stench in the room was revolting.
very unpleasant – often used about a taste that stays in your mouth: · Cheap wine sometimes leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.· the nasty smell of bad eggs
horrible and making you feel that you are going to vomit – used especially about a smell: · the nauseating smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke
horrible – used especially when there is decay or waste: · There was a foul smell coming from the water.· Whatever it was in that cup, it tasted foul.
Longman Language Activatorvery dirty extremely dirty: · The inside of the oven was filthy.· We didn't go swimming because the water looked filthy.· filthy sheetsabsolutely filthy: · You ought to wash that sweatshirt - it's absolutely filthy.
very dirty - use this especially about air or water: · the foul air of the factory· A foul haze of pollution hung over the city.
very dirty and unpleasant - use this about the place or conditions in which someone lives: · Dalmer lived in a squalid little room above a shop.· Her childhood was spent in the squalid slums east of the city.squalid conditions: · After the squalid conditions of the refugee camps even this place seems preferable.
an unpleasant taste or smell very bad - use this especially to talk about things that taste, smell, or look really bad: · It was the most disgusting meal I've ever eaten.· He smiled showing his teeth, which were a revolting yellow colour.· What a horrible smell!· Dick had cooked a special stew, which looked and smelled revolting.
tasting or smelling horrible: · Undercooked potatoes taste unpleasant and can be harmful.· Some animals give off an unpleasant odor that deters attackers.
a foul smell or taste is extremely bad, and is caused especially by waste or things decaying: · There was a foul smell coming up from the river.
informal very unpleasant - use this to talk about food, smells, or behaviour that you dislike very much: · Ooh, gross! I hate spinach!· Brad threw up on the floor at the party. It was really gross.
British /not very good/not too good spoken a taste or smell that is not very nice or not very good is slightly unpleasant: · This cheese isn't very good. How long have we had it?· The first time I smoked a cigarette it didn't taste very nice.· I wouldn't cook that if I were you. It doesn't smell too good.
tasting or smelling very strong and unpleasant: · I'm not very keen on this wine. It has a nasty aftertaste.· Police were alerted when neighbors complained of a nasty smell coming from the basement.· Cheap perfume often smells nasty after a couple of hours.
a meal or food that is unappetizing has an unpleasant appearance or smell and does not make you want to eat it: · The soup was cold and unappetizing, but it was all there was.· The main course was an unappetizing leg of chicken with boiled potatoes.
rude and offensive words formal language that most people think is offensive: · Even very young children are using foul language at school.· The computer chip allows parents to block programs containing violence, sex, or bad language.
language that most people think is offensive - used especially to warn people that there may be offensive words used in a film or television programme: · The following programme contains strong language, and some viewers may find it offensive.· The film has lots of violence, scenes of drug-taking, and strong language.
language that uses a lot of swear words - use this in humorous contexts: · The colourful language of some of the characters may make it unsuitable for younger viewers.
a word that most people think is extremely offensive, especially one that is connected with sex or the sexual organs: · Rap songs are full of four-letter words.· It's a family show, with no four-letter words.
a rude and offensive word that people use especially when they are angry: · He wasn't the type of man to use swear words.· We had to take all the swear words out of the play.
a word or expression, especially about sex, that most people think is extremely offensive: · Someone had written obscenities all over the classroom wall.· Rick burst into the apartment, drunk and shouting obscenities.
remarks, words etc that are unprintable are too offensive to appear in a newspaper, magazine, or book: · Most of what she said in the interview was unprintable.· Chief McNally admits he's been called many things, some of them unprintable.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a pile of foul-smelling garbage He put down his mug of foul-tasting coffee.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He is worried that his teenage kids will fall foul of the law. The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play. The position of the body led the police to suspect murder.
a pile of foul-smelling garbage He put down his mug of foul-tasting coffee. He is worried that his teenage kids will fall foul of the law. The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play. (=using unfair methods if necessary)· They were determined to achieve victory, by fair means or foul.
(=very bad and angry)· Watch what you say; he's in a foul mood.
The position of the body led the police to suspect murder.· The tea tasted horrible.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The Police are seemingly unable to do anything about it, especially against the use of the foulest language accompanying such vice.
· That M. Dupont's arrived in the foulest mood imaginable.
· Despite the foulest weather, the Traction acquitted itself with perfect decorum.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► in a foul mood/temperPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► by fair means or foul► good-tempered/foul-tempered/quick-tempered etc
1smell/taste a foul smell or taste is very unpleasant SYN disgusting: - Never use foul language to a customer.
- The Police are seemingly unable to do anything about it, especially against the use of the foulest language accompanying such vice.
- Conservationists cried foul when public land was put up for sale by the federal government.
- Edwards fell foul of the authorities and was ordered to leave the country.
He woke up with a foul taste in his mouth. a pile of foul-smelling garbage He put down his mug of foul-tasting coffee.► see thesaurus at horrible2in a foul mood/temper British English in a very bad temper and likely to get angry: The argument with his mother left Putt in a foul mood.3air/water very dirty: Refugees in the camps are short of food and at risk from foul water. extractor fans to remove foul air from the tunnel4foul language rude and offensive words: She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.5weather especially British English foul weather is stormy and windy, with a lot of rain or snow: Always carry foul weather gear when you go out walking.—foully adverb—foulness noun [uncountable] → by fair means or foul at fair1(11), → fall foul of somebody/something at fall1(15)