noun
Uncommon
FOIL
foyl
FOIL (noun) means a very thin, flexible sheet of metal, especially aluminum, used for wrapping food. Example: “She wrapped the leftovers in foil before putting them in the fridge.”
noun
1
A very thin, flexible sheet of metal, especially aluminum, used for wrapping food.
"She wrapped the leftovers in foil before putting them in the fridge."
2
A person or thing that highlights another's qualities by contrast, especially in a story.
"The clumsy sidekick acts as a foil to the graceful hero."
3
A thin fencing sword with a blunted tip, used in the sport of fencing.
"The fencers saluted each other with their foils before the match."
verb
1
To prevent a plan, attempt, or plot from succeeding.
"Police foiled the robbery before it could take place."
"Her quick thinking foiled his attempt to cheat."
How to use FOIL
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin metal sheeting, or to stop a plan from working, or a contrasting character in a story.
Common mistake
Don't confuse this "foil" (a character contrast) with the unrelated FOIL acronym used for multiplying binomials in algebra — same spelling, totally different meaning.
Common pairings
aluminum foil
foil a plot
act as a foil
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Word forms
- Plural
- foils
- Third person singular
- FOILs
- Past tense
- FOILed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wrapped the leftovers in _____ before putting them in the fridge.
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."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for FOIL
See all rhymes for 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.
