faul adj., n., adv., & v. --adj. 1
offensive to
the senses;
loathsome,
stinking. 2
dirty, soiled,
filthy. 3 colloq.
revolting,
disgusting. 4 a containing or charged
with noxious matter (foul air). b clogged, choked. 5 morally polluted; disgustingly
abusive or offensive (foul
language; foul deeds). 6
unfair;
against the rules of a game etc. (by fair
means or foul). 7 (of the weather)
wet,
rough,
stormy. 8 (of a
rope etc.) entangled. 9 (of a ship's bottom) overgrown with
weeds, barnacles, etc. --n. 1
Sport an unfair or invalid
stroke or
piece of
play. 2 a
collision or
entanglement,
esp. in riding, rowing, or
running. 3 a foul
thing. --adv. unfairly;
contrary to the rules. --v. 1 tr. & intr.
make or
become foul or dirty. 2 tr. (of an animal) make dirty with
excrement. 3 a tr. Sport
commit a foul against (a player). b intr. commit a foul. 4 a tr. (often foll. by up)
cause (an
anchor,
cable, etc.) to become entangled or muddled. b intr. become entangled. 5 tr.
jam or
block (a
crossing,
railway line, or traffic). 6 tr. (usu. foll. by up) colloq.
spoil or
bungle. 7 tr.
run foul
of;
collide with. 8 tr.
pollute with
guilt;
dishonour. øfoul
brood a
fatal disease of larval bees caused by
bacteria. foul
mouth a
person who uses foul language. foul play 1 unfair play in games. 2
treacherous or
violent activity, esp.
murder. foul-up a muddled or bungled
situation. øøfoully adv. foulness n. [OE ful f. Gmc]
