foil

Definition of foil in English English dictionary: A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant; Shortened form of hydrofoil; Anything that acts to emphasise the characteristics of something; The track of an animal
but after giving her a dodge, here's another b— follows me upon the foil.; To prevent (something) from being accomplished; To multiply two binomials together; A stylized flower or leaf; A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency; Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food; A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip; Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil; In literature, theatre/theater, etc, a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character; A very thin sheet of metal; In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. In some cases, a subplot can be used as a foil to the main plot. This is especially true in the case of metafiction and the "story within a story" motif. The word foil comes from the old practice of backing gems with foil in order to make them shine more brightly; {v} to defeat, overcome, push, set off; {n} a defeat, deception, thruct, sword, gilding; A thrusting weapon used in competition that allows valid touches only with the tip of the blade The target area comprises the torso, both front and back, and the groin Touches to other parts of the body are off target; A mill product that describes flat rolled metal forms that are defined only by a maximum thickness Traditionally the description of titanium foil is a flat rolled product 0 005" or less in thickness However gauges up to 010" are manufactured and marketed as foil products in various sectors of the industry; A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection; 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"; picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities; "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"; Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage; The track or trail of an animal; approval 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. to prevent something bad that someone is planning to do; - A type of character who sets off or highlights aspects of the protagonist in a play; usually has the opposite traits of the protagonist; 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. A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery on a jewellers' by grabbing the raiders' shotgun = thwart; Extremely thin sheet metal Usually used to refer to metals at very small B&S gauges; anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities; "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"; lobe (leaf) formed by the cusping of a circle or an arch Trefoil, quatrefoil, cinquefoil, multifoil, express the number of leaf shapes to be seen; To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase; cover or back with foil; "foil mirrors"; Lobe on a leaf-shaped curve formed by the cusping of a circle or arch The number of foils involved is indicated by a prefix, e g , tre-foil (3); quatre-foil (4), etc Foils are found in windows of Gothic Revival churches and houses; a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"; Very thin sheets of various metals, particularly silver and platinum Small pieces trapped between two layers of glass form an opaque section when seen through either side preventing light from going through it Shredded foil suspended between the layers looks like an opaque bubble Placed underneath a transparent glass cabochon, it lends it color Silver foil may be tarnished before trapping between the layers to give it a different color GANTAD; General term for hot stamping material, consisting of a film carrier (usually polyester) coated with a release agent, a color (lacquer) coat or metallized aluminum and an adhesive coat, in that order; The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc; A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold foil; picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector; A group of foils is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc; {f} frustrate, balk; prevent someone from succeeding; act as a contrast for; cover or coat with a thin sheet of metal; A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones; a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"; the lobe effect formed by the inner curves or arcs of Gothic tracery; each foil ends at the cusp; hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"; A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point; A "blunt " Any unsharpened weapon intended for practice The practice weapon for the epee du combat (duelling sword); a/ A light thrusting weapon used in modern fencing b/ A type of small sword with no edge and a button at the tip c/ Elizabethan for any blunted sword d/ To defeat; 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; enhance by contrast; "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background; A secondary character or characters whose actions, by strong contrast, underscore or enhance the distinctive characteristics of another character; {i} light sword, light fencing sword with a dull edged and a button on its point; thin metal sheets (i.e. aluminum foil); person or thing which serves as a contrast to another; small arc in a window (Architecture); To tread under foot; to trample; a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button; A thin sheet of metal placed behind a crystal or glass stone to make it brighter; Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage; A character in a work who, by sharp contrast, serves to stress and highlight the distinctive temperament of the protagonist; Very delicate, non-breathable wallpaper made by applying a thin sheet of printable metal to a paper or fabric back; To defile; to soil; paper backed with metal foil; To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat; A thin piece of material put under another material to add color or brilliance; Metallic or pigment leaf used to stamp designs on a surface; a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil" picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities; "pretty girls like plain friends as foils" cover or back with foil; "foil mirrors" enhance by contrast; "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background; A fencing weapon with rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard; any sword that has been buttoned to render it less dangerous for practice; according to the number of arcs of which it is composed; What you are trying to do to your opponent; A thin metallic sheet that is capable of absorbing neutrons, then emitting energy Foils are sometimes used as diagnostic devices in places where instruments are too large to fit Foils are also used in neutron radiography; That which sets off something to advantage The allusion is to the metallic leaf used by jewellers to set off precious stones (French, feuille; Latin, folium; Greek, phullon, a leaf ) "Hector, as a foil to set him off " Broome "I'll be your foil, Laertes In mine ignorance Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night, Stick flery off indeed " Shakespeare: Hamlet, v 2 He foiled me He outwitted me "If I be foiled, there is but one ashamod who never was gracious " - Shakespeare: As You Like It, i 2 To run a foil To puzzle; to lead astray The track of game is called its foil; and an animal hunted will sometimes run back over the same foil in order to mislead its pursuers; enhance by contrast; "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background"
foil character: In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. In some cases, a subplot can be used as a foil to the main plot. This is especially true in the case of metafiction and the "story within a story" motif. The word foil comes from the old practice of backing gems with foil in order to make them shine more brightly
foil a theft: {f} stop a theft, prevent someone from stealing
aluminium foil: A very thin, pliable, easily torn sheet of aluminium used for cooking, packaging, cosmetics, and insulation
aluminum foil: A very thin, pliable, easily torn sheet of aluminum used for cooking, packaging, cosmetics, and insulation
foiled: Simple past tense and past participle of foil
tin-foil hat: A piece of headgear made from one or more sheets of tin foil, aluminium foil, or other similar material, the hats worn in the belief that they act to shield the brain from such influences as electromagnetic fields, or against mind control and/or mind reading
tin-foil hats: plural form of tin-foil hat
A foil: foiling
aluminum foil: foil made of aluminum
aluminum foil: tin foil, very thin sheets of aluminum used for wrapping and preserving foodstuffs
foiled: disappointingly unsuccessful; "disappointed expectations and thwarted ambitions"; "their foiled attempt to capture Calais"; "many frustrated poets end as pipe-smoking teachers"; "his best efforts were thwarted"
foiled: {s} decorated with small arcs (Architecture)
foiled: past of foil
foiling: The track of game (as deer) in the grass
foiling: present participle of foil
foiling: an act of hindering someone's plans or efforts
foils: third-person singular of foil
gold foil: foil made of gold
gold foil: {i} foil made of gold, gold beaten into thin gold sheets
gold foil: Gold rolled or beaten into sheets somewhat thicker than gold leaf
silver foil: foil
silver foil: paper made of silver, paper made of aluminum
tin foil: foil made of aluminum
tin foil: foil made of tin or an alloy of tin and lead
tin foil: strong paper made of aluminum with a silver color used in the kitchen