foam

Pronunciation: /foʊm/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
  2. noun a lightweight material in cellular form; made by introducing gas bubbles during manufacture
  3. verb become bubbly or frothy or foaming

Etymology

From Middle English fom, foom, from Old English fām, from Proto-West Germanic *faim, from Proto-Germanic *faimaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)poHy-m-os, from *(s)poH(y)- (“foam”). Cognate with German Feim (“foam”), Latin spūma (“foam”), Latin pūmex (“pumice”), Sanskrit फेन (phéna, “foam”), possibly Northern Kurdish fê (“epilepsy”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

froth

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
bubble
Narrower (hyponyms)
lather, white water, soapsuds, head, shaving foam, spume

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