[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/foul/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / foul # foul adjective (foul, fouler, foulest); noun (a foul, fouls); verb (foul, fouls, fouled, fouling) «foul» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Very dirty, smelly or unpleasant: «a foul smell». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m1) 2. (in sport) An action that breaks the rules, like tripping or pushing another player. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m2) 3. (verb) To break a rule against a player in a game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m3) 4. (verb) To make something dirty: «Dogs must not foul the park». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m4) 5. (of weather or mood) Very bad: «foul weather», «a foul temper». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m5) 6. Rude: «foul language». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#m6) ### In the lessons In sport (football/soccer, basketball, netball) a foul gives the other team a free kick, a free throw or a penalty. In everyday safety: a foul smell can warn of rotten food or gas. Phrases: «commit a foul», «foul play» (cheating, or a crime), «foul weather», «foul language», «fall foul of» (get into trouble with). ### Examples - The rubbish bin has a foul smell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x1) - The referee blew the whistle for a foul. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x2) - He was fouled just outside the box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x3) - Please clean up after your dog so it does not foul the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x4) - We stayed inside because of the foul weather. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x5) - Foul language is not allowed in class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x6) - She was in a foul mood after losing her keys. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x7) - In basketball, after five fouls a player must leave the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x8) - The foul vapour of the beast and horror at its strangeness now overcame the prince, and he fainted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/#x9) ### Note Homophone: «fowl» (a bird like a chicken) sounds the same — «foul» is bad/dirty, «fowl» is a bird. Comparative: fouler, foulest. In baseball «a foul ball» is a ball hit outside the lines. ## In Jewish tradition It means bad-smelling and spoiled. It describes the Nile after the plague of blood. **Interpretation.** The plague of blood is read as striking the river that the Egyptians honored, showing God's power over their gods. ### Examples - And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.' (Torah EXO.7.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/#x1) - And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt. (Torah EXO.7.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/#x2) - And the rivers shall become foul; the streams of Egypt shall be minished and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither. (Prophets ISA.19.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/#x3) - And as for My sheep, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. (Prophets EZK.34.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/#x4) - Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish become foul, because there is no water, and die for thirst. (Prophets ISA.50.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/#x5) ### Note Homophone: «fowl» (a bird like a chicken) sounds the same — «foul» is bad/dirty, «fowl» is a bird. Comparative: fouler, foulest. In baseball «a foul ball» is a ball hit outside the lines. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «foul» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foul/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«foul» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/foul.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «foul» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foul/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«foul» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/foul.html) on Mova free.