What (who) is Foil - definition
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FOIL; Foil (disambiguation); Foils
foil
(foils, foiling, foiled)
1.
Foil consists of sheets of metal as thin as paper. It is used to wrap food in.
Pour cider around the meat and cover with foil.
...aluminium foil.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If you foil someone's plan or attempt to do something, for example to commit a crime, you succeed in stopping them from doing what they want. (JOURNALISM)
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery on a jewellers' by grabbing the raiders' shotgun...
= thwart
VERB: V n
3.
If you refer to one thing or person as a foil for another, you approve of the fact that they contrast with each other and go well together, often in a way that makes the second thing or person seem better or less harmful.
He thought of her serenity as a foil for his intemperance...
A cold beer is the perfect foil for a curry.
= complement
N-COUNT: usu sing, N for n [approval]
foil
I. v. a.
Defeat, frustrate, balk, baffle, thwart check, circumvent, disappoint, checkmate.
II. n.
1.
Film, flake, lamina (of metal).
2.
Contrast, background, set-off.
3.
Blunted rapier.
foil
foil1
¦ verb
1. prevent the success of.
2. Hunting (of a hunted animal) cross (a scent or track) in such a way as to confuse the hounds.
¦ noun
1. Hunting the track or scent of a hunted animal.
2. archaic a setback or defeat.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'trample down'): perh. from OFr. fouler 'to full cloth, trample', based on L. fullo 'fuller'.
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foil2
¦ noun
1. metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet.
a thin leaf of metal placed under a precious stone to increase its brilliance.
2. a person or thing that contrasts with and so enhances the qualities of another.
3. Architecture a leaf-shaped curve formed by the cusping of an arch or circle.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. folium 'leaf'.
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foil3
¦ noun a light, blunt-edged fencing sword with a button on its point.
Derivatives
foilist noun
Origin
C16: of unknown origin.
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foil4
¦ noun each of the structures fitted to a hydrofoil's hull to lift it clear of the water at speed.
Pronunciation examples for Foil
1. foil.
Interviews with 12 cutting-edge musicians from Oakland and beyond _ Matt Werner _ Talks at Google
2. Foil.
Serious Fun for Everyone UNBORED Games _ Josh Glenn & Tony Leone _ Talks at Google
3. Or foil.
George Lopez _ My Life and Career as a Comedian _ Talks at Google
4. Next up, the foil.
Low Tech High Intelligence Connection _ Grace Ku _ Talks at Google
5. TONY LEONE: Holographic foil.
Serious Fun for Everyone UNBORED Games _ Josh Glenn & Tony Leone _ Talks at Google
Examples of use of Foil
1. Headlines Terror police arrest pregnant woman in pyjamas Pakistan arrests ‘helped to foil plot‘ Assets of terror plotters frozen as bank names suspects Did they foil another '/11?
2. Others have fortified their doorways to foil kidnappers.
3. Bush said such tactics have helped foil terrorist plots.
4. Hence, nothing in the universe can foil His purpose.
5. "Actions like this will not foil elections in Russia.