Foil - definition, pronunciation, transcription

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Amer.  |fɔɪl|  American pronunciation of the word foil
Brit.  |fɔɪl|  British pronunciation of the word foil

noun

- a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal
the photographic film was wrapped in foil
- anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities (syn: enhancer)
pretty girls like plain friends as foils
- 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 (syn: hydrofoil)
the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils
- picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector (syn: transparency)
- a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

verb

- enhance by contrast
In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background
- hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of (syn: baffle, bilk, cross, frustrate, queer, scotch, spoil, thwart)
foil your opponent
- cover or back with foil
foil mirrors

Extra examples

Her husband's steadiness acts as a foil to her impetuousness.

The prisoner's attempt to escape was foiled at the last minute.

Cover the chicken with silver foil and bake.

A massive arms-smuggling plan has been foiled by the CIA.

In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background

Enclose the fish in foil and bake.

She wrapped the fish in foil and baked it for 15 minutes.

...he plays the role of the duplicitous knave who tries to foil the play's hero...

...the lithe blade of a fencing foil...

Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, and then use a fork to perforate the foil.

When I get my hair highlighted, I look like a giant roll of aluminum foil.

The simple stone floor is the perfect foil for the brightly coloured furnishings.

There's a new roll of silver foil in there.

Wrap the cake in a double thickness of foil.

Word forms

verb
I/you/we/they: foil
he/she/it: foils
present participle: foiling
past tense: foiled
past participle: foiled
noun
singular: foil
plural: foils
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