Topic: TASTES
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ful |
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foul1
1 a foul smell or taste is very unpleasant [= disgusting]: 
He woke up with a foul taste in his mouth.
smell/taste
COCTHe woke up with a foul taste in his mouth.2 in a very bad temper and likely to get angry : The argument with his mother left Putt in a foul mood.
in a foul mood/temper
British EnglishThe argument with his mother left Putt in a foul mood.3 very dirty : Refugees in the camps are short of food and at risk from foul water. extractor fans to remove foul air from the tunnel
air/water
Refugees in the camps are short of food and at risk from foul water.extractor fans to remove foul air from the tunnel4 rude and offensive words : She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.
foul language
She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.5 foul weather is stormy and windy, with a lot of rain or snow : Always carry foul weather gear when you go out walking.
weather
especially British EnglishDNAlways carry foul weather gear when you go out walking. —foully adverb
—foulness noun [uncountable]
➔ by fair means or foul
at fair1 (11); ➔ fall foul of somebody/something
at fall1 (15)WORD FOCUS: horrible
WORD FOCUS: horrible 
taste or smell: nasty, not very nice, revolting, disgusting, foul, unpleasant, gross informal
experience, situation, or feeling: nasty, not very nice, terrible, unpleasant
person: nasty, not very nice, obnoxious, mean American English, unpleasant, objectionable
➔ See also horrible
