foul
foul /f'aʊl/ (fouler foulest fouls fouling fouled)
1 [ADJ]
If you describe something as foul, you mean it is dirty and smells or tastes unpleasant.
...foul polluted water...
The smell was quite foul.
= disgusting
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Foul language is offensive and contains swear words or rude words.
He was sent off for using foul language in a match last Sunday...
He had a foul mouth.
= filthy
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If someone has a foul temper or is in a foul mood, they become angry or violent very suddenly and easily.
Collins was in a foul mood even before the interviews began.
= bad
4 [ADJ]
Foul weather is unpleasant, windy, and stormy.
5 [VERB] V n
If an animal fouls a place, it drops faeces onto the ground.
It is an offence to let your dog foul a footpath.
6 [VERB] V n
In a game or sport, if a player fouls another player, they touch them or block them in a way which is not allowed according to the rules.
Middlesbrough's Jimmy Phillips was sent off for fouling Steve Tilson.
7 [N-COUNT] oft N on n
A foul is an act in a game or sport that is not allowed according to the rules.
He picked up his first booking for a 45th-minute foul on Bull.
[ADJ] ADJ n
Foul is also an adjective.
...a foul tackle.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you fall foul of someone or run foul of them, you do something which gets you into trouble with them. (mainly BRIT)
He had fallen foul of the FBI.foul play
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Foul play is criminal violence or activity that results in a person's death.
The report says it suspects foul play was involved in the deaths of two journalists.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Foul play is unfair or dishonest behaviour, especially during a sports game.
Players were warned twice for foul play.pro|fes|sion|al foul (professional fouls)
[N-COUNT]
In football, if a player commits a professional foul, they deliberately do something which is against the rules in order to prevent another player from scoring a goal.
1 [ADJ]
If you describe something as foul, you mean it is dirty and smells or tastes unpleasant.
...foul polluted water...
The smell was quite foul.
= disgusting
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Foul language is offensive and contains swear words or rude words.
He was sent off for using foul language in a match last Sunday...
He had a foul mouth.
= filthy
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If someone has a foul temper or is in a foul mood, they become angry or violent very suddenly and easily.
Collins was in a foul mood even before the interviews began.
= bad
4 [ADJ]
Foul weather is unpleasant, windy, and stormy.
5 [VERB] V n
If an animal fouls a place, it drops faeces onto the ground.
It is an offence to let your dog foul a footpath.
6 [VERB] V n
In a game or sport, if a player fouls another player, they touch them or block them in a way which is not allowed according to the rules.
Middlesbrough's Jimmy Phillips was sent off for fouling Steve Tilson.
7 [N-COUNT] oft N on n
A foul is an act in a game or sport that is not allowed according to the rules.
He picked up his first booking for a 45th-minute foul on Bull.
[ADJ] ADJ n
Foul is also an adjective.
...a foul tackle.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you fall foul of someone or run foul of them, you do something which gets you into trouble with them. (mainly BRIT)
He had fallen foul of the FBI.foul play
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Foul play is criminal violence or activity that results in a person's death.
The report says it suspects foul play was involved in the deaths of two journalists.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Foul play is unfair or dishonest behaviour, especially during a sports game.
Players were warned twice for foul play.pro|fes|sion|al foul (professional fouls)
[N-COUNT]
In football, if a player commits a professional foul, they deliberately do something which is against the rules in order to prevent another player from scoring a goal.