BEFOUL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does befoul mean? 

• BEFOUL (verb)
  The verb BEFOUL has 1 sense:

1. spot, stain, or pollute

  Familiarity information: BEFOUL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEFOUL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they befoul    ... he / she / it befouls   
Past simple: befouled   
Past participle: befouled   
-ing form: befouling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spot, stain, or pollute

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

befoul; defile; foul; maculate

Context example:

The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it

Hypernyms (to "befoul" is one way to...):

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

befoulment (the state of being polluted)

 Context examples 

See to my gown, the third that I have befouled within the week.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On this befouled background visions began to flow and burn.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)