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froth

(frôth, frŏth)

1. A mass of bubbles in or on a liquid; foam.

2. Salivary foam released as a result of disease or exhaustion.

3. Something unsubstantial or trivial: "The frivolous side of the Sixties—fashion, pop culture, sex—should not be dismissed as mere froth and show" (Tony Judt).

4. High prices unwarranted by economic fundamentals: a housing market with a lot of froth.

5. A fit of anger or vexation: was in a froth over the long delay.

v. (also frôth, frŏth) frothed, froth·ing, froths

v.tr.

1. To cover with foam.

2. To cause to foam.

v.intr.

To exude or expel foam: a dog frothing at the mouth.

[Middle English, from Old Norse frodha.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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