FOAM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does foam mean? 

• FOAM (noun)
  The noun FOAM has 2 senses:

1. a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

2. a lightweight material in cellular form; made by introducing gas bubbles during manufacture

  Familiarity information: FOAM used as a noun is rare.

• FOAM (verb)
  The verb FOAM has 1 sense:

1. become bubbly or frothy or foaming

  Familiarity information: FOAM used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOAM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

foam; froth

Context example:

the beer had a thick head of foam

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)

• FOAM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they foam    ... he / she / it foams   
Past simple: foamed   
Past participle: foamed   
-ing form: foaming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become bubbly or frothy or foaming

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

sparkling water

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)

 Context examples 

“We draw! We draw!” cried Hawtayne, with his eyes still fixed upon the foam which hissed under the very bulge of the side.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

BBMP is used in industry as a flame retardant in unsaturated polyester resins, in molded products and in rigid polyurethane foam.

(BBMP, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by the presence of foam cells, inflammatory cells, hemosiderin deposition and stromal hemorrhage.

(Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers gathered data on how Gary and two other birds land on different surfaces, including natural perches and artificial perches covered in foam, sandpaper and Teflon.

(Researchers study birds to improve how robots land, National Science Foundation)

We were now alongside and foaming past.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It is characterized by the presence of fibroblastic spindle cells arranged in a whorled storiform pattern, osteoclast-like giant cells, foam cells, inflammatory cells, hemosiderin deposition and stromal hemorrhage.

(Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone, NCI Thesaurus)

It is composed of synovial-like mononuclear cells, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, foam cells, and inflammatory cells.

(Diffuse Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath, NCI Thesaurus)

A foam intended for administration through the mouth.

(Oral Foam Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

He rose once to the surface in a lather of foam and blood and then sank again for good.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

These cells accumulate in tissue and are transformed into foam cells, dying and forming part of the atherogenic plaque.

(LDL Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)