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foil
1[ foil ]
foil
2[ foil ]
noun
- metal in the form of very thin sheets:
aluminum foil.
- the metallic backing applied to glass to form a mirror.
- a thin layer of metal placed under a gem in a closed setting to improve its color or brilliancy.
- a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast:
The straight man was an able foil to the comic.
Synonyms: counterpart, complement, contrast
- Architecture. an arc or a rounded space between cusps, as in the tracery of a window or other ornamentation.
verb (used with object)
- to cover or back with foil.
- to set off by contrast.
foil
3[ foil ]
noun
- a flexible four-sided rapier having a blunt point.
- foils, the art or practice of fencing with this weapon, points being made by touching the trunk of the opponent's body with the tip of the weapon.
foil
1/ fɔɪl /
noun
- a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button and usually having a bell-shaped guard
foil
2/ fɔɪl /
noun
- metal in the form of very thin sheets
tin foil
gold foil
- the thin metallic sheet forming the backing of a mirror
- a thin leaf of shiny metal set under a gemstone to add brightness or colour
- a person or thing that gives contrast to another
- architect a small arc between cusps, esp as used in Gothic window tracery
verb
- to back or cover with foil
- Alsofoliate architect to ornament (windows) with foils
foil
3/ fɔɪl /
verb
- to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)
- hunting (of hounds, hunters, etc) to obliterate the scent left by a hunted animal or (of a hunted animal) to run back over its own trail
- archaic.to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)
noun
- hunting any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal
- archaic.a setback or defeat
Derived Forms
- ˈfoilable, adjective
Other Words From
- foila·ble adjective
- un·foila·ble adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of foil1
Origin of foil2
Origin of foil3
Word History and Origins
Origin of foil1
Origin of foil2
Origin of foil3
Example Sentences
Later, Melenda would send me off with a warm slice of her homemade rum cake wrapped in aluminum foil.
Typically, they’re refreshing, tart, and often physically chilled, making an ideal foil to the highly spiced meat.
The new design is “tabless,” which means the rolled-up foils inside each cell won’t need a metal tab running its length in order to enable charging and discharging.
He’s turned the group into a boogeyman of sorts, and it serves as a perfect foil for a president and a conservative movement looking to cast the overwhelmingly peaceful participants in protests over police brutality as a group of violent thugs.
Line an open box with aluminum foil, and use it to reflect sunlight into the box.
Frank no longer has his convenient foil from The Lay of the Land, his Tibetan associate Mike Mahoney.
But his lumbering lurch toward the Ted Cruz tin-foil-hat convention should instead be an object lesson for Republicans to come.
If McConnell really thinks that, then why not foil their scheme by voting yes?
French and Crown one rib rack and season with salt and pepper, cover exposed bones with foil, cook in oven at 350 for 2.5 hours.
The image really serves as a foil to the victim on the tape.
A small palm tree was set in the midst of the arena,—the trunk bronze, the leaves one sheen of gold-foil.
Out of the panic at Big Shanty two men emerged, determined, if possible, to foil the unknown captors of their train.
General Hancock's head-quarters' flag,—the tree-foil of the Second Corps,—was waving on the ridge southwest of the house.
For two ounces of liquid I should recommend a sheet of stout silver foil, about two inches long and half an inch broad.
"You bet they're the real thing," said Tough McCarty, slipping off the foil.
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