English Explanatory Dictionary

befoul

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make foul; to soil; to contaminate, pollute.
  2. To defecate on, to soil with excrement.
  3. To stain or mar (e.g., with infamy or disgrace).
  4. To entangle or run against so as to impede motion.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈfaʊl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-befoul.wav

Word forms

befoul befouls befouling befouled

Etymology

From be- + foul.

Synonyms

befile befilth foul assoil beclart bedaub bedirty imbrue (especially with blood) bedizen befoul begrime beray beshit besmear besmirch besully bewray blacken blot blur clat contaminate darken defile dirten dirty elt file foil gunk gunk up inquinate scunge sling mud slotter slur smear smirch smudge smut smutch soil soss sowl spot stain sullow sully tarnish uggle shit on assassinate asperse backbite badmouth belibel blame blaze blemish calumniate

Related words

afoul

Derived words

befouler befoulment unbefouled

Translations

Bulgarian: замърсявам Chinese Mandarin: 弄脏 Dutch: verzieken Dutch: bevuilen Dutch: bezoedelen German: verderben Korean: 더럽히다 Latin: inquinō Polish: brudzić Polish: ubrudzić Polish: kalać Polish: skalać Portuguese: conspurcar Russian: загрязнять Ottoman Turkish: كیرلمك Ottoman Turkish: پیسلمك Ottoman Turkish: مردارلامق Ottoman Turkish: بوقلامق
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