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2 : a person whose ideas are out-of-date

— fos·sil·ize verb

Synonyms

antediluvian, dodo, fogy, fuddy-duddy, reactionary—more at FOGY

fossil fuel noun : a fuel (as coal or oil) that is formed in the earth from plant or animal remains

1foster adjective [ORIGIN: ME, fr. OE fōstor-, fr. fōstor food, feeding]

: affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties <~ parent> <~ child>

2foster verb 1 : to give parental care to

2 : to promote the growth or development of : ENCOURAGE

Synonyms

[1] breed, bring up, raise, rear—more at BRING UP

[2] advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, nourish, nurture, promote

Antonyms

discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

foster home noun : a household in which an orphaned, neglected, or delinquent child is placed for care

fos·ter·ling noun : a foster child

Fou·cault pendulum noun : a device that consists of a heavy weight hung by a long wire and that swings in a constant direction which appears to change showing that the earth rotates

fought past and past participle of FIGHT

1foul adjective 1 a : offensive to the senses

b : clogged with dirt

2 : arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : ODIOUS

3 : abhorrent to morality or virtue : OBSCENE

4 : being wet and stormy : STORMY <~ weather>

5 : characterized by or manifesting treachery : DISHONORABLE, UNFAIR

6 : marking the bounds of a playing field <~ lines>; also : being outside the foul line <~ ball> <~ territory>

7 : containing marked-up corrections

8 : ENTANGLED

— foul·ly adverb

Synonyms

[1a] fetid, malodorous, noisome, rank, reeky, smelly, strong—more at MALODOROUS

[1b] dirty, filthy, muddy, unclean

[1, 2, 3] abhorrent, awful, distasteful, nasty, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive

[4] bleak, dirty, inclement, nasty, raw, rough, squally, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent

Antonyms

clement, fair

2foul noun 1 : an entanglement or collision in fishing or sailing

2 : an infraction of the rules in a game or sport; also : a baseball hit outside the foul line

3foul verb 1 : to make or become foul or filthy

2 : to entangle or become entangled

3 : OBSTRUCT, BLOCK

4 : to collide with

5 : to make or hit a foul

Synonyms

befoul, blacken, contaminate, dirty, muddy, smirch, soil, stain, taint

4foul adverb : in a foul manner

fou·lard noun : a lightweight silk of plain or twill weave usu. decorated with a printed pattern

foul·mouthed adjective : given to the use of obscene, profane, or abusive language

foul·ness noun : the quality or state of being foul

Synonyms

dirtiness, filth, filthiness, grossness, nastiness, obscenity, smut, vulgarity—more at OBSCENITY

foul play noun 1 : unfair, dishonest, or treacherous conduct or dealing : VIOLENCE

2 : the crime of unlawfully killing a person esp. with malice aforethought : MURDER

foul–up noun 1 : a state of being fouled up

2 : a mechanical difficulty

foul up verb 1 : to spoil by mistakes or poor judgment

2 : to cause a foul-up : BUNGLE

Synonyms

botch, bungle, flub, fumble, mess

1found past and past participle of FIND

2found verb [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF funder, fonder, fr. L fundare, fr. fundus bottom]

1 : to take the first steps in building

2 : to set or ground on something solid : BASE

3 : to establish (as an institution) often with provision for future maintenance

Synonyms

establish, inaugurate, initiate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set up, start

Antonyms

close (down), phase out, shut (up)

foun·da·tion noun 1 : the act of founding

2 : a basis upon which something stands or is supported

3 a : funds given for the permanent support of an institution or cause : ENDOWMENT

b : an endowed institution

4 : supporting structure : BASE

5 : CORSET

— foun·da·tion·al adjective

Synonyms

[2] base, basis, bedrock, footing, ground, groundwork, keystone, underpinning—more at BASE

[3b] establishment, institute, institution—more at INSTITUTION