What does spume mean?
Spume is a somewhat uncommon word for foam or froth, particularly the delicate bubbles that form on the surface of breaking waves, rapidly moving water, boiling liquids, or other agitated substances. It can also be used as a verb: a liquid may spume, meaning that it foams or gives off froth. The word has a formal, descriptive, and occasionally poetic quality, making it especially effective in literary or atmospheric writing. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say foam or froth. Spume is useful when the emphasis is on the physical appearance or movement of bubbles rather than simply on the presence of foam.
Foam or froth, especially a light, bubbly mass on the surface of a liquid.
"A curtain of spume rose from the breakers."
More literary and descriptive than the ordinary words foam and froth.
To foam, froth, or produce bubbles.
"The agitated water spumed against the hull."
Used intransitively for a liquid that foams or gives off froth.
The plural spumes is used for separate masses or quantities of foam.
"White spumes rose above the shoreline."
Spume is the poetic name for the fleeting foam that crowns breaking waves, boiling water, and other churning liquids.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spume come from?
Spume comes from Latin spuma, meaning “foam” or “froth,” through the English verb spume and its noun use. The Latin root also underlies words such as spumescent and spumaceous, which refer to foam or a tendency to foam. The English form preserves the long “u” sound represented by the letter combination “spu,” pronounced like “spoo”.
Related word forms
How spume is actually used
Spume is relatively uncommon and has a formal or literary tone. It is especially evocative in descriptions of seas, rapids, boiling liquids, and volcanic activity.
Easily confused with spume
No distinction applies because this is the headword itself.