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

单词	foils
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 foils 1 of 2 noun plural of foil as in contrasts 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 Relevance contrasts complements supplements counterpoints counters correlates antitheses mirror images opposites antonyms negations antipodes inverses converses reverses contraries negatives obverses Antonyms & Near Antonyms counterparts analogs analogues synonyms copies duplicates replicas carbon copies See More foils 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of foil as in thwarts to prevent from achieving a goal in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans Synonyms & Similar Words thwarts frustrates hampers baffles defeats stops prevents checkmates balks beats hinders bars blocks arrests handicaps overcomes halts checks discomfits stalls impedes shackles trammels obstructs forestalls inhibits holds back hobbles obviates fetters manacles offsets ties up precludes sets back neutralizes clogs encumbers short-circuits nullifies averts conquers counteracts negates interferes (with) Antonyms & Near Antonyms advances encourages promotes aids assists fosters cultivates furthers forwards facilitates nurtures abets eases smooths smoothes See More
随便看	disc hiller disc jockey disc jockeys disc plow disc ridge buster disc weeder discal discal cell discalceate discalceates discalced discamp discandy discant discanted discanting discants discantus discard discardable discarded discarder discarders discarding discards

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

noun

verb