FOIL
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for FOIL, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A very thin, flexible sheet of metal, especially aluminum, used for wrapping food.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use FOIL
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The "prevent" and "thin metal sheet" senses come from separate Old French roots meaning "to trample" and "leaf" respectively — both eventually collapsed into the single English spelling "foil."
Full origin of FOIL →Frequently asked questions
What does “FOIL” mean?
The word “FOIL” means a very thin, flexible sheet of metal, especially aluminum, used for wrapping food. In plain terms, thin metal sheeting, or to stop a plan from working, or a contrasting character in a story.
How do you pronounce “FOIL”?
“FOIL” is pronounced foyl (/fɔɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “FOIL” in a sentence?
Here is “FOIL” used in a sentence: “She wrapped the leftovers in foil before putting them in the fridge.”
What part of speech is “FOIL”?
Depending on how it is used, “FOIL” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “FOIL” come from?
The word “FOIL” comes from Old French. The "prevent" and "thin metal sheet" senses come from separate Old French roots meaning "to trample" and "leaf" respectively — both eventually collapsed into the single English spelling "foil.".
Is “FOIL” a common word?
“FOIL” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “FOIL” have?
“FOIL” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very thin, flexible sheet of metal, especially aluminum, used for wrapping food.
What is the difference between foil and a foil in storytelling?
As a physical material, foil refers to a very thin, flexible sheet of metal such as aluminum foil used for wrapping food. As a literary term, a foil is a character or thing that highlights another's qualities by contrast, an entirely separate figurative sense sharing only the word's spelling.
What does it mean to foil a plan?
To foil a plan means to prevent it from succeeding, typically by blocking or outsmarting it at a key moment. For example, "the security guard foiled the robbery attempt."
What is a foil in fencing?
In fencing, a foil is a thin sword with a blunted tip, used as one of the three weapons in the sport alongside the épée and sabre. It is designed for safe scoring based on touches to the torso.
How is aluminum foil different from other kinds of foil?
Aluminum foil is a specific type of foil made from thin sheets of aluminum, commonly used for wrapping and cooking food. The general term foil can refer to thin sheets of any metal, though aluminum foil is the most common household form.