foil
Foil is defined as a thin piece of metal, or a sword used in fencing.
(noun)- An example of foil is aluminum foil, a thin metal sheet used to cover food before you put it in the freezer.
- An example of foil is a long, thin sword used in sword fighting.
To foil is defined as to keep something from happening.
(verb)An example of foil is when your mom catches you sneaking out to go to a party.
See foil in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to keep from being successful; thwart; frustrate
- Hunting to make (a scent, trail, etc.) confused, as by recrossing, in order to balk the pursuers
Origin: ME foilen < OFr fuler, to trample on, subdue: see full
noun
- Archaic the scent or trail of an animal
- Archaic a thwarting
noun
- a leaflike, rounded space or design between cusps or in windows, etc., as in Gothic architecture
- a very thin sheet or leaf of metal; specif., such a sheet, as of aluminum, used for wrapping food, etc.
- the metal coating on the back of a mirror
- a thin leaf of polished metal placed under an inferior or artificial gem to give it brilliance
- a person or thing that sets off or enhances another by contrast
Origin: ME < OFr fuil (Fr feuille), a leaf < L folia < folium, leaf: see foliate
transitive verb
- to cover or back with foil
- Rare to serve as a contrast to
- to decorate (windows, etc.) with foils
noun
- a long, thin fencing sword with a button on the point to prevent injury
- the art or sport of fencing with foils
Origin: < ?
See foil in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb foiled, foil·ing, foils
- To prevent from being successful; thwart.
- To obscure or confuse (a trail or scent) so as to evade pursuers.
Archaic
- A repulse; a setback.
- The trail or scent of an animal.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English foilen, to trample, defile
Origin: , variant of filen, to defile; see file3
.noun
- A thin, flexible leaf or sheet of metal: aluminum foil.
- A thin layer of polished metal placed under a displayed gem to lend it brilliance.
- One that by contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another: “I am resolved my husband shall not be a rival, but a foil to me” (Charlotte Brontë).
- The reflective metal coating on the back of a glass mirror.
- Architecture A curvilinear, often lobelike figure or space formed between the cusps of intersecting arcs, found especially in Gothic tracery and Moorish ornament.
- a. An airfoil.b. Nautical A hydrofoil.
- To cover or back with foil.
- To set off by contrast.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French foille
Origin: , from Latin folia
Origin: , pl. of folium, leaf; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots
.noun
- A fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a thin, flexible four-sided blade with a button on the tip to prevent injury.
- The art or sport of fencing with such a sword. Often used in the plural: a contest at foils.
Origin:
Origin: Origin unknown
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