foil

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈfȯi(-ə)l

foiled; foiling; foils

transitive verb

: to prevent from attaining an end : defeat

always able to foil her enemies

Her accident foiled her from becoming a dancer.

: to bring to naught : thwart

foiled the plot

Police foiled an attempted robbery.

obsolete : trample

foil

2 of 5

noun (1)

: very thin sheet metal

aluminum foil

: a thin piece of material (such as metal) put under an inferior or paste stone to add color or brilliance

: someone or something that serves as a contrast to another

acted as a foil for a comedian

: an indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery

: one of several arcs that enclose a complex figure

: hydrofoil sense 1

foil

3 of 5

verb (2)

foiled; foiling; foils

transitive verb

: to back or cover with foil

: to enhance by contrast

foil

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a light fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a flexible blade of rectangular section tapering to a blunted point compare épée, saber

: the art or sport of fencing with the foil

—often used in plural

foil

5 of 5

noun (3)

archaic : defeat

archaic : the track or trail of an animal

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English foilen "to trample, tread upon, mortify (the flesh), oppress," alteration of fullen "to full (cloth), trample down, oppress," perhaps by analogy with loanwords from French with palatal l that result in variants with -oi- and -u-, as coilen, cullen "to select for quality, pick out, cull entry 1" — more at full entry 5

Noun (1)

Middle English, leaf, from Anglo-French fuille, foille (from Latin folia, plural of folium) & fuil, from Latin folium — more at blade

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

derivative of foil entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

foil 1 of 2

verb

as in to thwart

to prevent from achieving a goal in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

thwart
baffle
frustrate
hamper
prevent
defeat
checkmate
balk
stop
beat
hinder
block
shackle
set back
bar
halt
impede
overcome
neutralize
discomfit
stall
hold back
tie up
arrest
obstruct
inhibit
handicap
offset
trammel
check
forestall
preclude
nullify
manacle
obviate
counteract
short-circuit
avert
fetter
clog
hobble
encumber
negate
conquer
interfere (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

promote
forward
assist
advance
aid
encourage
cultivate
foster
facilitate
further
nurture
smooth
ease
abet

foil

2 of 2

noun

as in contrast

something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way This cool, refreshing salad is the perfect foil for spicy foods.

Synonyms & Similar Words

contrast
complement
counterpoint
supplement
correlate
counter
opposite
inverse
mirror image
antithesis
converse
negation
antonym
contrary
reverse
obverse
antipode
negative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

analog
analogue
duplicate
counterpart
synonym
copy
replica
carbon copy

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of foil are baffle, balk, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

The words baffle and foil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

While the synonyms balk and foil are close in meaning, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

While in some cases nearly identical to foil, frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

The synonyms thwart and foil are sometimes interchangeable, but thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

单词	foil
释义	foil 1 of 5 verb (1) ˈfȯi(-ə)l foiled; foiling; foils transitive verb 1 a : to prevent from attaining an end : defeat always able to foil her enemies Her accident foiled her from becoming a dancer. b : to bring to naught : thwart foiled the plot Police foiled an attempted robbery. 2 obsolete : trample foil 2 of 5 noun (1) 1 : very thin sheet metal aluminum foil 2 : a thin piece of material (such as metal) put under an inferior or paste stone to add color or brilliance 3 : someone or something that serves as a contrast to another acted as a foil for a comedian 4 a : an indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery b : one of several arcs that enclose a complex figure 5 : hydrofoil sense 1 foil 3 of 5 verb (2) foiled; foiling; foils transitive verb 1 : to back or cover with foil 2 : to enhance by contrast foil 4 of 5 noun (2) 1 : a light fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a flexible blade of rectangular section tapering to a blunted point compare épée, saber 2 : the art or sport of fencing with the foil —often used in plural foil 5 of 5 noun (3) 1 archaic : defeat 2 archaic : the track or trail of an animal Synonyms Verb (1) baffle balk beat checkmate discomfit frustrate thwart See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Verb (1) Middle English foilen "to trample, tread upon, mortify (the flesh), oppress," alteration of fullen "to full (cloth), trample down, oppress," perhaps by analogy with loanwords from French with palatal l that result in variants with -oi- and -u-, as coilen, cullen "to select for quality, pick out, cull entry 1" — more at full entry 5 Noun (1) Middle English, leaf, from Anglo-French fuille, foille (from Latin folia, plural of folium) & fuil, from Latin folium — more at blade Noun (2) origin unknown Noun (3) derivative of foil entry 1 First Known Use Verb (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Noun (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb (2) 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (3) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing foil silver foil aluminum foil silver foil aluminum foil Kids Definition foil 1 of 3 verb ˈfȯil foiled; foiling : to prevent from achieving a goal Police foiled the bank robbery. foil 2 of 3 noun : a very thin sheet of metal aluminum foil foil 3 of 3 noun : a fencing sword having a light flexible blade with a blunt point Medical Definition foil noun ˈfȯil : very thin sheet metal (as of gold or platinum) used especially in filling teeth foil 1 of 2 verb as in to thwart to prevent from achieving a goal in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance thwart baffle frustrate hamper prevent defeat checkmate balk stop beat hinder block shackle set back bar halt impede overcome neutralize discomfit stall hold back tie up arrest obstruct inhibit handicap offset trammel check forestall preclude nullify manacle obviate counteract short-circuit avert fetter clog hobble encumber negate conquer interfere (with) Antonyms & Near Antonyms promote forward assist advance aid encourage cultivate foster facilitate further nurture smooth ease abet See More foil 2 of 2 noun as in contrast something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way This cool, refreshing salad is the perfect foil for spicy foods. Synonyms & Similar Words contrast complement counterpoint supplement correlate counter opposite inverse mirror image antithesis converse negation antonym contrary reverse obverse antipode negative Antonyms & Near Antonyms analog analogue duplicate counterpart synonym copy replica carbon copy See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of foil are baffle, balk, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort. foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her The words baffle and foil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling. baffled by the maze of rules and regulations While the synonyms balk and foil are close in meaning, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances. officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime While in some cases nearly identical to foil, frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. frustrated attempts at government reform The synonyms thwart and foil are sometimes interchangeable, but thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing. the army thwarted his attempt at a coup
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foil

verb (1)

noun (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing foil

Kids Definition

verb

noun

noun

Medical Definition

noun

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser