foam

American  

[fohm] / foʊm /

noun

1. a collection of minute bubbles formed on the surface of a liquid by agitation, fermentation, etc..

   foam on a glass of beer.

   Synonyms:

   scum, fizz, head, spume, froth

2. the froth of perspiration, caused by great exertion, formed on the skin of a horse or other animal.

3. froth formed from saliva in the mouth, as in epilepsy and rabies.

4. a thick frothy substance, as shaving cream.

5. (in firefighting)

   1. a chemically produced substance that smothers the flames on a burning liquid by forming a layer of minute, stable, heat-resistant bubbles on the liquid's surface.

   2. the layer of bubbles so formed.

6. a dispersion of gas bubbles in a solid, as foam glass, foam rubber, polyfoam, or foamed metal.

7. Literary. the sea.

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verb (used without object)

1. to form or gather foam; emit foam; froth.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to foam.

2. to cover with foam; apply foam to.

   to foam a runway before an emergency landing.

3. to insulate with foam.

4. to make (plastic, metal, etc.) into a foam.

idioms

1. foam at the mouth, to be extremely or uncontrollably angry.

foam British  

/ fəʊm /

noun

1. a mass of small bubbles of gas formed on the surface of a liquid, such as the froth produced by agitating a solution of soap or detergent in water

2. frothy saliva sometimes formed in and expelled from the mouth, as in rabies

3. the frothy sweat of a horse or similar animal

4. 1. any of a number of light cellular solids made by creating bubbles of gas in the liquid material and solidifying it: used as insulators and in packaging

   2. ( as modifier )

      foam rubber

      foam plastic

5. a colloid consisting of a gas suspended in a liquid

6. a mixture of chemicals sprayed from a fire extinguisher onto a burning substance to create a stable layer of bubbles which smothers the flames

7. a poetic word for the sea

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verb

1. to produce or cause to produce foam; froth

2. (intr) to be very angry (esp in the phrase foam at the mouth )

foam Scientific  

/ fōm /

1. Small, frothy bubbles formed in or on the surface of a liquid, as from fermentation or shaking.

2. A colloid in which particles of a gas are dispersed throughout a liquid.

3. Compare aerosol emulsion

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Other Word Forms

• defoam verb (used with object)
• foamable adjective
• foamer noun
• foamingly adverb
• foamless adjective
• foamlike adjective
• unfoamed adjective
• unfoaming adjective

Etymology

Origin of foam

before 900; Middle English fom, Old English fām; cognate with German Feim

Example Sentences

Swiss prosecutors believe the fire ignited from champagne bottles with sparklers too close to insulation foam on the bar's ceiling.

From Barron's

Prosecutors believe the fire started when champagne bottles with sparklers attached set light to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling.

From BBC

Investigators say sparklers likely ignited flammable acoustic foam on the ceiling, and witnesses described flames racing overhead before many patrons understood the danger.

From The Wall Street Journal

The sparks appear to set fire to the ceiling, which was covered with foam for soundproofing, and the flames spread very quickly.

From BBC

PU foam is often treated with fire-retardant before being installed as a noise dampener in factories and entertainment venues.

From BBC

Related Words

• cream
• froth
• spray