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Foil
Definitions
- 1 An acronym for the algorithm for multiplying two binomials. mnemonic
- 1 A very thin sheet of metal or plastic. countable, uncountable
- 2 Failure when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.
"Fame is no plant that grows on mortal foil"
- 3 The track of an animal.
"[…]but after giving her a dodge, here's another b— follows me upon the foil."
- 4 A small arc in the tracery of a window, etc.
- 5 a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button wordnet
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- 6 Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food. uncountable
"wrap the sandwich up in foil"
- 7 One of the incorrect answers presented in a multiple-choice test.
- 8 a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal wordnet
- 9 A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant. countable, uncountable
- 10 picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector wordnet
- 11 In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character and who usually acts as an opponent or antagonist, but can also serve as the sidekick of the protagonist. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Whereas the female invests heavily in the wake of conception, the male invests heavily prior to conception. Hitherto, the male has been regarded as the mere foil to the heavy investment in reproduction that renders the female the logjam (the limiting factor) in reproduction – reproduction overall is expandable by increasing the number of females, not by increasing the number of males."
- 12 a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through wordnet
- 13 Anything that acts by contrast to emphasise the characteristics of something. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"As she a black silk cap on him begun / To set, for foil of his milk-white to serve."
- 14 anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities wordnet
- 15 A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip countable, uncountable
"Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not."
- 16 A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency. countable, uncountable
- 17 A premium trading card with a glossy finish. countable, uncountable
"I personally would collect all the foils from Base Set before this one, but the market is what the market is."
- 18 A stylized flower or leaf. countable, uncountable
- 19 Clipping of hydrofoil. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
- 20 Clipping of aerofoil/airfoil. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
- 1 To apply the FOIL algorithm to. transitive
- 2 To cover or wrap with foil. transitive
- 3 To prevent (something) from being accomplished.
"They foiled my plans."
- 4 To expand a product of two or more algebraic expressions, typically binomials.
- 5 To defile; to soil. obsolete
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- 6 cover or back with foil wordnet
- 7 Clipping of hydrofoil. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
- 8 To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
"I was foiled by my superior"
- 9 hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of wordnet
- 10 To blunt; to dull; to spoil.
"they foil the scent of one another."
- 11 enhance by contrast wordnet
- 12 To tread underfoot; to trample. obsolete
"King Richard […] caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled underfoot."
Etymology
Acronym of first outer inner last or similar.
Acronym of first outer inner last or similar.
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 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 (“I trample, I full”).
From Middle English foilen (“spoil a scent trail by crossing it”), from Old French fouler (“tread on, trample”), ultimately from Latin fullō (“I trample, I full”).
From French foulis.
From mnemonic acronym FOIL (“First Outside Inside Last”).
See file.
See also for "foil"
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Unscramble this word: foil