Definition of foul
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a
: offensive to the senses : loathsome
the foul odor of rotten eggs
b
: filled or covered with offensive matter
foul bins of filth
2
: being odorous and impure : polluted
foul air
3a
: morally or spiritually odious : detestable
a foul crime
5a
: being wet and stormy
foul weather
b
: obstructive to navigation
a foul tide
6a
: treacherous, dishonorable
fair means or foul
b
: constituting an infringement (see infringe sense 1) of rules in a game or sport
a foul blow in boxing
7
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
… a foul fly that was snagged by a fan in the stands.— E. M. Swift
8
: containing marked-up corrections
a foul manuscript foul proofs
9
: full of dirt or mud
10
: encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance
the chimney was foul and smoked badly
11
: placed in a situation that impedes physical movement : entangled
a foul fishing line
foul
nounDefinition of foul (Entry 2 of 4)
1a
: an infringement of the rules in a game or sport
b
: free throw
2
: foul ball
3
: an entanglement or collision especially in angling or sailing
4
archaic
: something foul
foul
verb
fouled; fouling; fouls
Definition of foul (Entry 3 of 4)
1
: to make foul: such as
a
: to make dirty : pollute
b
: to tangle or come into collision with
c
: to encrust with a foreign substance
a ship's bottom fouled with barnacles
3
: to commit a foul against
4
: to hit (a baseball) foul
1
: to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game
2
: to hit a foul ball
foul
adverbDefinition of foul (Entry 4 of 4)
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for foul
The first known use of foul was before the 12th century
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