Foil
Pronunciation
- IPA: /fɔɪl/
- Rhymes: -ɔɪl
Origin 1
From Old French fueille ("plant leaf"), from Latin folia, the plural of folium, mistaken as a singular feminine.
Full definition of foil
Noun
foil
(uncountable)- A very thin sheet of metal.
- (uncountable) Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food.
- A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant.
- (figuratively) In literature, theatre/theater, etc, a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character.
- (figuratively) Anything that acts by contrast to emphasise the characteristics of something.
- Sir Philip SidneyAs she a black silk cap on him began
To set, for foil of his milk-white to serve. - BroomeHector has a foil to set him off.
- (fencing) A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip
- ShakespeareBlunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not.
- MitfordSocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a sword.
- A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency.
- (heraldiccharge) A stylized flower or leaf.
- Shortened form of hydrofoil.
- Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil.
Synonyms
- (thin aluminium/aluminum) aluminium foil, silver foil, silver paper, tin foil
Origin 2
From Middle English foilen ("spoil a scent trail by crossing it"), from Old French fouler ("tread on, trample"), ultimately from Latin fullo ("clothes cleaner, fuller").
Verb
- To prevent (something) from being accomplished.
- To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
- DrydenAnd by mortal man at length am foiled.
- Byronher long locks that foil the painter's power
- 2011, December 10, David Ornstein, Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton, First, former Toffee Mikel Arteta sent Walcott racing clear but instead of shooting he squared towards Ramsey, who was foiled by Tony Hibbert.
- To blunt; to dull; to spoil.to foil the scent in hunting
- (obsolete) To tread underfoot; to trample.
- KnowlesKing Richard ... caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot.
- SpenserWhom he did all to pieces breake and foyle,
In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle.
Synonyms
- (prevent from being accomplished) put the kibosh on, scupper, thwart
Noun
foil
(plural foils)- Failure when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.
- DrydenNor e'er was fate so near a foil.
Origin 3
From French foulis.
Noun
foil
(plural foils)Synonyms
- (track of an animal) spoor
Origin 4
From mnemonic acronym FOIL ("First Outside Inside Last").
Verb
- (mathematics) To multiply two binomials together.
Origin 5
See file.