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Definition of Foil in English :

Define Foil in English

Foil meaning in English

Meaning of Foil in English

Pronunciation of Foil in English

Foil pronunciation in English

Pronounce Foil in English

Foil

see synonyms of foil

Noun

1. foil

a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

Example Sentences:
'the photographic film was wrapped in foil'

2. enhancer, foil

anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities

Example Sentences:
'pretty girls like plain friends as foils'

3. foil, hydrofoil

a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through

Example Sentences:
'the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils'

4. foil, transparency

picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector

5. foil

a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

Verb

6. foil

enhance by contrast

Example Sentences:
'In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background'

7. baffle, bilk, cross, foil, frustrate, queer, scotch, spoil, thwart

hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

Example Sentences:
'What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge'
'foil your opponent'

8. foil

cover or back with foil

Example Sentences:
'foil mirrors'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Foil

see synonyms of foil
verb (transitive)
1. 
to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)
2. 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
3. archaic
to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)
noun
4. hunting
any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal
5. archaic
a setback or defeat
noun
1. 
metal in the form of very thin sheets
gold foil
tin foil
2. 
the thin metallic sheet forming the backing of a mirror
3. 
a thin leaf of shiny metal set under a gemstone to add brightness or colour
4. 
a person or thing that gives contrast to another
5. architecture
a small arc between cusps, esp as used in Gothic window tracery
6.  short for aerofoil, hydrofoil
verb (transitive)
7. 
to back or cover with foil
8. Also: foliate architecture
to ornament (windows) with foils
noun
a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button and usually having a bell-shaped guard

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Foil

see synonyms of foil
verb transitive
1. 
to keep from being successful; thwart; frustrate
2.  Hunting
to make (a scent, trail, etc.) confused, as by recrossing, in order to balk the pursuers
noun
3.  Archaic
the scent or trail of an animal
4.  Archaic
a thwarting
noun
1. 
a leaflike, rounded space or design between cusps or in windows, etc., as in Gothic architecture
2. 
a very thin sheet or leaf of metal; specif., such a sheet, as of aluminum, used for wrapping food, etc.
3. 
the metal coating on the back of a mirror
4. 
a thin leaf of polished metal placed under an inferior or artificial gem to give it brilliance
5. 
a person or thing that sets off or enhances another by contrast
verb transitive
6. 
to cover or back with foil
7.  Rare
to serve as a contrast to
8. 
to decorate (windows, etc.) with foils
noun
1. 
a long, thin fencing sword with a button on the point to prevent injury
2.  [pl.]
the art or sport of fencing with foils

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Foil

see synonyms of foil
tr.v. foiled, foil·ing, foils
1. To prevent from being successful; thwart: The alarm system foiled the thieves' robbery attempt.
2. To obscure or confuse (a trail or scent) so as to evade pursuers.
n.
Archaic
1. A repulse; a setback.
2. The trail or scent of an animal.
n.
1. Metal that has been formed into a thin, flexible sheet: aluminum foil.
2. A thin layer of polished metal placed under a displayed gem to lend it brilliance.
3. One that stands in contrast to and emphasizes the distinctive characteristics of another: "I am resolved my husband shall not be a rival, but a foil to me" (Charlotte Brontë).
4. The reflective metal coating on the back of a glass mirror.
5. Architecture A curvilinear, often lobelike figure or space formed between the cusps of intersecting arcs, found especially in Gothic tracery and Moorish ornament.
6.
a. An airfoil.
b. Nautical A hydrofoil.
tr.v. foiled, foil·ing, foils
1. To cover or back with foil.
2. To wrap (strands of hair) in pieces of foil in order to isolate them after bleach or color has been applied.
3. To set off by contrast.
n.
1. A fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a thin, flexible four-sided blade with a button on the tip to prevent injury.
2. often foils The art or sport of fencing with such a sword: a contest at foils.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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