spume
/spjuːm
/literary
noun [mass noun]
Froth or foam, especially that found on waves: the spume of the white-capped waves...
- Today, the waves are no more than white flecks of spume, gently nudging their way to shore.
- The late winter sun was shining brightly and big waves hurled themselves against the rocks, sending sheets of white spume up along the cliffs.
- Beyond them a tail of white spume rose into the air as the river cascaded over jutting black rocks.
Synonyms
foam, froth, surf, spindrift, spray;
fizz, effervescence, bubbles, head, mousse;
lather, suds
verb [no object]
Form or produce a mass of froth or foam: water was spuming under the mill...
- It was a cold, clear night and the sea was beginning to fret, spuming over the harbour walls.
- Lightening crashed, thunder rolled, ash and molten lava spumed from the mountains.
Derivatives
spumous
- The mood is perfect for damp blustery walks along the spumous edge of the thundering waters, and strolls through the Oakwood Cemetery.
- The fierce rollers of the spumous sea broke and recoiled, foaming upon the sandy beach.
spumy
- Photographs of a spumy coastline are separated by a horizontal strip of images taken of the artist's crisp shadow on the sunny beach.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French (e)spume or Latin spuma.