foil
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also FOIL
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[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology 1
From French feuille (“plant leaf”), from Latin folia, the plural of folium, mistaken as a singular feminine.
[edit] Noun
foil (countable and uncountable; plural foils)
- 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 to emphasise the characteristics of something.
- (fencing) A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip
- A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency.
- (heraldry) A stylized flower or leaf.
- Shortened form of hydrofoil.
- Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil.
[edit] Synonyms
- (thin aluminium/aluminum): aluminium foil, silver foil, silver paper, tin foil
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
thin sheet of metal
thin aluminium/aluminum or tin used for wrapping food
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type of sword used in fencing
thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant
character who helps emphasise the traits of the main character
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anything that acts to emphasise the characteristics of something
shortened form of hydrofoil — see hydrofoil
shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil — see aerofoil
[edit] Etymology 2
From Middle English foilen (“spoil a scent trail by crossing it”), from French fouler (“tread on, trample”), ultimately from Latin fullo (“clothes cleaner, fuller”).
[edit] Verb
foil (third-person singular simple present foils, present participle foiling, simple past and past participle foiled)
- To prevent (something) from being accomplished.
- To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
- 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, BBC Sport:
- First, former Toffee Mikel Arteta sent Walcott racing clear but instead of shooting he squared towards Ramsey, who was foiled by Tony Hibbert.
- 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, BBC Sport:
[edit] Synonyms
- (prevent from being accomplished): put the kibosh on, scupper, thwart
[edit] Translations
prevent from being accomplished
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[edit] Etymology 3
From French foulis.
[edit] Noun
foil (plural foils)
- (hunting) The track of an animal.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book VII, chapter iv
- […] but after giving her a dodge, here's another b— follows me upon the foil.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book VII, chapter iv
[edit] Synonyms
- (track of an animal): spoor
[edit] Etymology 4
From mnemonic acronym FOIL (“First Outside Inside Last”).
[edit] Verb
foil (third-person singular simple present foils, present participle foiling, simple past and past participle foiled)
- (mathematics) To multiply two binomials together.
