foam
/fəʊm/ (bre, ipa) · /fəʊm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfōm/ (ame, mw) · /foʊm/ (ame, ipa)
foam — noun
1. A layer of tiny bubbles that appears on top of a liquid when it is shaken, heate
A layer of tiny bubbles that appears on top of a liquid when it is shaken, heated, or mixed with soap.
Dahlia watched white foam form on her hot chocolate as she stirred it with a spoon.
collocation: 'white foam' for bubbles on drinks
Waves crashed against the cliffs, leaving a trail of foam that drifted back out to sea.
Ritu poured soda too fast and foam spilled over the glass onto the counter.
Asher saw a layer of foam on the river near the factory and worried the water might be polluted.
A thick blanket of foam covered the soup after Shirin boiled it too long.
用法筆記
Typically uncountable — 'a foam' is not used for naturally occurring bubbles. Use quantifiers like 'a layer of foam' or 'a patch of foam'.
常見錯誤
2. A creamy substance made of tiny air bubbles trapped together, sold as a product
A creamy substance made of tiny air bubbles trapped together, sold as a product for shaving, washing, or firefighting.
Christopher squeezed a handful of shaving foam and spread it gently over his cheeks and chin.
collocation: 'shaving foam' for grooming product
Pim added too much bubble bath to the tub, and thick foam piled up above the water line.
Firefighters aimed a hose of special foam at the oil fire to smother the flames.
Léa uses a gentle face wash that turns into soft foam and does not dry out her skin.
- lather
specifically the foam produced when soap mixes with water on skin; more common for washing hands or shaving
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this refers to a manufactured product (shaving foam, firefighting foam) rather than naturally occurring bubbles. Often used with a noun modifier describing its purpose.
常見錯誤
3. A lightweight, soft material filled with many tiny air pockets, used inside cush
A lightweight, soft material filled with many tiny air pockets, used inside cushions, mattresses, seats, and packaging to provide comfort or protection.
Benjamin sat on the old sofa and felt the foam inside the cushion sag under his weight.
collocation: 'foam inside [object]' for filling material
Amelia cut foam sheets to fit inside the box and protect a ceramic bowl.
The new mattress is made of memory foam that changes shape to fit your body while you sleep.
Eshe placed foam padding around the edges of a wooden table before wrapping it.
- padding
broader term that includes foam, cotton, or any soft filling; more general
- cushioning
focuses on the function of absorbing shock; can be made of various materials
用法筆記
Commonly used as a modifier before another noun: foam mattress, foam cushion, foam seat. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense can occasionally be countable when referring to types of foam, such as 'memory foams' or 'high-density foams'.
常見錯誤
foam — verb
- foampresent simple I / you / we / they
- foams3rd person singular
- foaming-ing form
- foamedpast simple
1. When a liquid foams, small air bubbles form inside it and rise to the surface, c
When a liquid foams, small air bubbles form inside it and rise to the surface, creating a layer of foam.
Femi watched the milk foam as it heated up in the pot on the stove.
pattern: 'milk foam(s)' for heated liquids
The water began to foam when Trang added soap to the bucket and scrubbed the floor.
The river foamed where it rushed over sharp rocks at the bottom of the hill.
Manuela shook the soda bottle hard, and when she opened it the liquid foamed up and spilled.
Astrid saw the dishwater foaming as she squeezed more detergent into the sink.
- settle
when bubbles disappear and the liquid becomes still again
文法句型
liquid + foam(s) / is foaming
用法筆記
Intransitive only — the liquid produces foam by itself. The phrasal verb 'foam up' adds emphasis on the action happening quickly or excessively.
常見錯誤
2. To release bubbles of saliva from the mouth, usually because of illness or extre
To release bubbles of saliva from the mouth, usually because of illness or extreme anger; almost always used in the expression 'foam at the mouth'.
A stray dog lay on the pavement foaming at the mouth, so someone called a vet for help.
literal: illness in animals
Arjun was practically foaming at the mouth when someone took his parking spot.
figurative: extreme anger
Romi foamed at the mouth and collapsed during the hike, so the guide called for help.
Hassan's grandfather told a story about a rabid fox foaming at the mouth in the village square.
- froth at the mouth
interchangeable with 'foam at the mouth', though 'froth' is slightly less common in modern English
文法句型
foam at the mouth
be foaming at the mouth
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'foam at the mouth' or its progressive form 'foaming at the mouth'. Can be used literally (illness such as rabies or poisoning) or figuratively (extreme anger). The figurative use is informal and emotionally intense.