froth

[frawth, froth]

noun

1. an aggregation of bubbles, as on an agitated liquid or at the mouth of a hard-driven horse; foam; spume.

2. a foam of saliva or fluid resulting from disease.

3. something unsubstantial, trivial, or evanescent.

   The play was a charming bit of froth.

   Synonyms: nonsense, fluff, frivolity, triviality

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with froth.

   giant waves frothing the sand.

2. to cause to foam.

   to froth egg whites with a whisk.

3. to emit like froth.

   a demagogue frothing his hate.

verb (used without object)

1. to give out froth; foam.

   frothing at the mouth.

froth

/ frɒθ /

noun

1. a mass of small bubbles of air or a gas in a liquid, produced by fermentation, detergent, etc

2. a mixture of saliva and air bubbles formed at the lips in certain diseases, such as rabies

3. trivial ideas, talk, or entertainment

verb

1. to produce or cause to produce froth

2. (tr) to give out in the form of froth

3. (tr) to cover with froth

Other Word Forms

• frother noun
• outfroth verb (used with object)
• unfrothed adjective
• unfrothing adjective
• frothiness noun
• frothily adverb
• frothy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of froth¹

1350–1400; Middle English frothe < Old Norse frotha froth, scum

Word History and Origins

Origin of froth¹

C14: from Old Norse frotha or frauth ; related to Old English āfrēothan to foam, Sanskrit prothati he snorts

Example Sentences

Big names in the financial world, such as Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, are warning about AI-fueled froth in the markets and in capital spending.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The recent selloff appears to have let some froth out of the market, but without endangering the three-year bull run in stocks.

Read more on MarketWatch

Some analysts compare the current market froth in brokerage stocks to the late 1990s, raising concerns about potential further declines.

Read more on Barron's

Everyone has their method: Alton Brown swears by a dollop of mayonnaise; Martha Stewart sometimes froths hers in a cappuccino maker.

Read more on Salon

WSJ: Do you worry about the speed at which all of this is changing and growing and the sort of froth around investment and the enthusiasm for what can be?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• foam 
• scum