Foil meaning

What does “foil” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“foil” is a noun and verb with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal.

foil

noun

  1. a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

    “the photographic film was wrapped in foil”

  2. anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities

    “pretty girls like plain friends as foils”

    Synonymsenhancer
  3. 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

    “the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils”

    Synonymshydrofoil
  4. picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector

    Synonymstransparency
  5. a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

verb

  1. enhance by contrast

    “In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background”

  2. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

    “What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge”

    “foil your opponent”

  3. cover or back with foil

    “foil mirrors”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University