Word
foil
US/ˈfɔɪɫ/
UK/fˈɔɪl/
Definitions
01metal sheet
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. a very thin, flexible sheet of metal, usually aluminium, used to wrap food.
n. a very thin sheet of metal, typically aluminium, used for culinary or industrial wrapping.
Español:papel de aluminio
“She covered the leftover chicken with aluminium foil before putting it in the fridge.”
“The chef insisted on wrapping the beetroot in heavy-duty foil to ensure it roasted evenly in its own juices.”
02a person who contrasts
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Theater Academic · Literary
n. a person or thing that makes another's qualities more obvious by being very different.
n. a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes the qualities of another, often used in literary analysis.
“In the story, the serious detective is a perfect foil for his funny partner.”
“The protagonist's impulsive nature is highlighted by the presence of a cautious, analytical foil who questions every decision.”
Synonyms
03fencing sword
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. a light, thin sword with a blunt tip used in the sport of fencing.
n. a light fencing sword with a flexible quadrangular blade and a blunt point.
Español:florete
“He practiced his footwork for an hour before picking up his foil for the match.”
“The fencer scored a decisive point by using her foil to parry the opponent's lunge and counter-attack quickly.”
04wing or fin
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technology Technical
n. a short name for a wing-like part that helps a boat or plane lift up.
n. a shortened form of hydrofoil or aerofoil, referring to a structure that creates lift in water or air.
“The high-speed ferry rose up on its foils as it gained speed in the harbour.”
“Engineers adjusted the angle of the foils to reduce drag and improve the vessel's fuel efficiency at cruising speeds.”
05to stop a plan
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to stop someone from doing something they planned, especially something bad.
v. to prevent a person from succeeding in a plan or to thwart an effort.
“The police managed to foil the robbery after a witness called them.”
“The security team successfully foiled the attempted data breach by isolating the compromised server within minutes.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Atlético Madrid held on with 10 men for a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart , foiling the German underdogs’ bid to join Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool at the top of the table on nine points.” “A sheet of aluminum foil also reflects quite a bit of light—but not all the light.” “Cotton lab coats and gloves were worn, and all solutions were always covered with aluminum foil throughout the whole experiment [ 43 ].” “Based on the form of the old threepenny bit, the 12-sided shape will no doubt foil any forgers who don’t have a file to hand.” Etymology
From Middle English foyle, from Middle French fueille, from Old French fueille (“plant leaf”), from Late Latin folia, the plural of folium, mistaken as a singular feminine. The literary sense is from the practice of backing a gem with metal foil to make it shine more brilliantly. Doublet of folio and folium, distantly also with phyllo and phyllon.
From Middle English foilen (“spoil a scent trail by crossing it”), from Old French fouler (“tread on, trample”), ultimately from Latin fullō (“to trample, full”).
From French foulis.
From mnemonic acronym FOIL (“First Outside Inside Last”).
See file.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/foil
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0