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Froth vs Scum - What's the difference?

froth | scum | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between froth and scum

is that froth is foam while scum is a layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).

As verbs the difference between froth and scum

is that froth is to create froth in while scum is to remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).

froth

English

Noun

  • foam
    • Froth is a very important feature of many types of coffee.
    {{quote-Fanny Hill, part=2 , He replaced her again breadthwise on the couch, unable to sit up, with her thighs open, between which I could observe a kind of white liquid, like froth , hanging about the outward lips of that recently opened wound, which now glowed with a deeper red.}}
  • (figuratively) unimportant events or actions; drivel
  • * L'Estrange
    • It was a long speech, but all froth .
    Thousands of African children die each day: why do the newspapers continue to discuss unnecessary showbiz froth ?

    Derived terms

    * froth fly * froth insect * froth spit * froth worm

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To create froth in.
    • I like to froth my coffee for ten seconds exactly.
  • To bubble.
    • The chemical frothed up when I added the acid.
  • To spit, vent, or eject, as froth.
  • * Dryden
    • He froths treason at his mouth.
  • * Tennyson
    • Is your spleen frothed out, or have ye more?
  • To cover with froth.
    • A horse froths his chain.

    Derived terms

    * frothy * froth at the mouth

    Anagrams

    *

    References

    scum

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).
  • (uncountable) A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds
  • The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank.
  • (uncountable, slang, chiefly US) semen
  • (countable, derogatory, slang) A reprehensible person or persons.
  • (countable, derogatory, slang) police officer(s)

    • Synonyms

    * (layer of impurities) dross, impurities * (layer of impurities on molten metal) cinder, scoriae, slag * (person considered reprehensible) bastard

    Related terms

    * scumbag * scummy

    Verb

    (scumm)
  • To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).
  • To remove (something) as scum.
  • *1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.vii:
  • *:Some scumd the drosse, that from the metall came; / Some stird the molten owre with ladles great.
  • To become covered with scum.
  • *1769 , Elizabeth Raffald, The Experienced English House-keeper , pp.321-322:
  • *:Take the smallest Cucumbers you can get, and as free from Spots as possible, put them into a strong Salt and Water for nine or ten Days, or 'till they are quite Yellow, and stir them twice a Day at least, or they will scum over, and grow soft
  • (obsolete) To scour (the land, sea etc.).
  • *:
  • *:SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore rydars of the north / and made hem to telle whiche wey the hooste cam / and thenne they told it to Arthur / and by kyng Ban and Bors counceill they lete brenne and destroye alle the contrey afore them there they shold ryde
  • *Milton
  • *:Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates.
  • (obsolete) To gather together, as scum.
  • *1815 , Rudolf Ackerman and Frederic Shoberl, The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics :
  • *:A great majority of the members are scummed together from the Jacobinical dregs of former periods of the revolution.
  • To startscum or savescum.

    • Anagrams

    * *