foam

Everyday

1. A mass of many tiny bubbles on top of a liquid or made by mixing air into something, like the foam on the sea, on a bath or on a milkshake. tree →
2. A soft, light material full of tiny holes, used for cushions, mattresses, packaging and toys: foam rubber. tree →
3. As a verb, to make or be covered with bubbles. tree →
4. To foam with rage means to be very angry, as if bubbling at the mouth. tree →

In the lessons

In science, foam is a mixture of a gas trapped in a liquid or solid; soap foams because it traps air in thin films. Fire extinguisher foam smothers fires by keeping oxygen away. Polystyrene foam is light and insulates heat (hot-drink cups), but it is hard to recycle. In everyday life, shaving foam, bath foam and toothpaste foam are common. In safety and science, an animal foaming at the mouth may be very ill — keep away and tell an adult. Phrases: "sea foam", "bath foam", "foam rubber", "foam mattress", "foaming at the mouth" (very angry).

Examples

• The waves left white foam on the sand. tree →
• The bath foam smelled of strawberries. tree →
• My toothpaste foams up when I brush. tree →
• The fire fighters sprayed foam on the burning car. tree →
• The new sofa has foam cushions. tree →
• The baking soda and vinegar foamed out of the bottle. tree →
• We used foam blocks to build a tower in PE. tree →
• The glass was packed in foam so it wouldn't break. tree →
• Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with rage. tree →

Note

Uncountable as a substance: "some foam", "a lot of foam". Regular verb: foamed, foaming. "Froth" means almost the same as foam, especially on drinks. "Foaming at the mouth" is an idiom for being furious.

In Jewish tradition

It describes wine that bubbles, a sign of rich food.

Interpretation. Moses' song lists the good things God gave Israel in the land. Tradition reads it as a way of showing his generosity.

Examples

• Curd of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and he-goats, with the kidney-fat of wheat; and of the blood of the grape thou drankest foaming wine. (Torah DEU.32.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• In that day sing ye of her: 'A vineyard of foaming wine!' (Prophets ISA.27.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water. (Prophets HOS.10.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou hast trodden the sea with Thy horses, the foaming of mighty waters. (Prophets HAB.3.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable as a substance: "some foam", "a lot of foam". Regular verb: foamed, foaming. "Froth" means almost the same as foam, especially on drinks. "Foaming at the mouth" is an idiom for being furious.