Library / English Dictionary

FOAM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

Example:

the beer had a thick head of foam

Synonyms:

foam; froth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("foam" is a kind of...):

bubble (a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "foam"):

shaving foam (toiletry consisting of a liquid preparation containing many small bubbles that soften the beard before shaving)

head (the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container)

lather (the foam resulting from excessive sweating (as on a horse))

lather; soapsuds; suds (the froth produced by soaps or detergents)

spume (foam or froth on the sea)

white water; whitewater (frothy water as in rapids or waterfalls)

Derivation:

foam (become bubbly or frothy or foaming)

foamy (emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A lightweight material in cellular form; made by introducing gas bubbles during manufacture

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("foam" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "foam"):

Styrofoam (a light resilient foam of polystyrene)

foam rubber (spongy rubber; made by introducing air bubbles before vulcanization and used for cushioning or upholstery)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become bubbly or frothy or foaming

Example:

sparkling water

Synonyms:

effervesce; fizz; foam; form bubbles; froth; sparkle

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "foam" is one way to...):

bubble (form, produce, or emit bubbles)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "foam"):

lather (form a lather)

seethe (foam as if boiling)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

foam (a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid)

Credits

 Context examples: 

In addition, the exclusion of polysorbate 80 in this formulation precludes foaming during the preparation process, thus facilitating preparation and administration.

(Docetaxel Emulsion ANX-514, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by the presence of mononuclear cells, multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, foam cells, and an inflammatory infiltrate.

(Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath, NCI Thesaurus)

A foam intended for parenteral administration.

(Injectable Foam Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

The wind is high—I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow throws back the foam.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The foul weather was passed, and the landlocked sea-birds would be out on the foam once more.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was horrible to see the fierce brutes with foaming mouths and glaring eyes, rushing and grasping, but forever missing their elusive enemies, while arrow after arrow buried itself in their hides.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A foam that is packaged under pressure and released upon activation of an appropriate valve system.

(Aerosol Foam Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

And Buck was truly a red-eyed devil, as he drew himself together for the spring, hair bristling, mouth foaming, a mad glitter in his blood-shot eyes.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He spoke without enthusiasm; and the first man, limping into the milky stream that foamed over the rocks, vouchsafed no reply.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Manufacturers add PBDEs to foam, textiles, electronics and other products to make them less flammable.

(Bacteria living in marine sponge produce toxic compounds found in man-made products, NSF)