foam

From Middle English fome, fom, from Old English fām, 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 Kurdish fê (“epilepsy”).

• (General American) enPR: fōm, IPA^(key): /foʊm/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: fōm, IPA^(key): /fəʊm/
• Rhymes: -əʊm

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foam (countable and uncountable, plural foams)

1. A substance composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains.
   • 2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:

     Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

   He doesn't like so much foam in his beer.

2. A substance formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid.

   A foam mat can soften a hard seat.

3. (by extension) Sea foam; (figuratively, poetic) the sea.

   He is in Europe, across the foam.

4. Fury.

• foam rubber
• foamy
• shaving foam

foam (third-person singular simple present foams, present participle foaming, simple past and past participle foamed)

1. (intransitive) To form or emit foam.
   • c. 1606, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, Act II, Scene 6,

     […] And that is it

     Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen

     The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant

     To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome

     Cast on my noble father.

   • 1706, Isaac Watts, “The Day of Judgement,” lines 1-2,

     When the fierce North-wind with his airy forces

     Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury;

   • 1908, G. K. Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday, Chapter 8,

     They were both silent for a measure of moments, and then Syme's speech came with a rush, like the sudden foaming of champagne.

2. (intransitive) To spew saliva as foam, to foam at the mouth.
   • c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3, Act II, Scene 1,

     […] to London will we march amain,

     And once again bestride our foaming steeds,

     And once again cry ‘Charge upon our foes!’

     But never once again turn back and fly.

   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Mark 9:17-18,

     Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away.

   • 1748, John Cleland, Fanny Hill, Letter the First, Part 1,

     But I was talking to the wind; for whether my tears, my attitude, or the disorder of my dress prov'd fresh incentives, or whether he was not under the dominion of desires he could not bridle, but snorting and foaming with lust and rage, he renews his attack, seizes me, and again attempts to extend and fix me on the settee […]

• foam at the mouth
• foam up