Definitions for FOIL
fɔɪlfoil

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. foilnoun

   a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

   "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"

2. foil, enhancernoun

   anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities

   "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"

3. hydrofoil, foilnoun

   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

   "the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils"

4. foil, transparencynoun

   picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector

5. foilverb

   a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

6. foilverb

   enhance by contrast

   "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background"

7. thwart, queer, spoil, scotch, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilkverb

   hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

   "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"

8. foilverb

   cover or back with foil

   "foil mirrors"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FOILverb

   To apply the FOIL algorithm to.

2. FOILnoun

   A particular algorithm for multiplying two binomials.

3. foilnoun

   A very thin sheet of metal.

4. foilnoun

   Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food.

5. foil

   A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant.

6. foil

   In literature, theatre/theater, etc, a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character.

7. foil

   Anything that acts to emphasise the characteristics of something.

8. foil

   A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip

9. foil

   A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency.

10. foil

    A stylized flower or leaf.

11. foil

    Shortened form of hydrofoil.

12. foilverb

    To prevent (something) from being accomplished.

13. foilverb

    To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

14. foilnoun

    The track of an animal.

15. foilverb

    To multiply two binomials together.

16. foil

    Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil.

17. Etymology: of first outer inner last or similar.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Foilnoun

   Etymology: from the verb.

   1. A defeat; a miscarriage; an advantage gained without a complete conquest.

   We of thy cunning had no diffidence;
   One sudden foil shall never breed distrust. William Shakespeare, Hen. VI.

   Whosoever overthroweth his mate in such sort, as that either his back, or the one shoulder, and contrary heel do touch the ground, shall be accounted to give the fall: if he be endangered, and make a narrow escape, it is called a foil. Carew.

   So after many a foil the tempter proud,
   Renewing fresh assaults, amidst his pride,
   Fell whence he stood to see his victor fall. John Milton, P. Lost.

   When age shall level me to impotence,
   And sweating pleasure leave me on the foil. Thomas Southerne.

   Death never won a stake with greater toil,
   Nor e’er was fate so near a foil. Dryden.

   2. [ Feuille, French.] Leaf; gilding.

   A stately palace, built of squared brick,
   Which cunningly was without mortar laid,
   Whose walls were high, but nothing strong nor thick,
   And golden foil all over them display’d. Fairy Queen, b. i.

   Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,
   Nor in the glistering foil
   Set off to th’ world, nor in broad rumour lies. John Milton.

   3. Something of another colour near which jewels are set to raise their lustre.

   As she a black silk cap on him begun
   To set for foil of his milk-white to serve. Philip Sidney.

   Like bright metal on a sullen ground,
   My reformation glittering o’er my fault,
   Shall shew more goodly, and attract more eyes,
   Than that which hath no foil to set it off. William Shakespeare, Hen. IV.

   The sullen passage of thy weary steps
   Esteem a foil, wherein thou art to set
   The precious jewel of thy home. William Shakespeare.

   ’Tis the property of all true diamonds to unite the foil closely itself, and thereby better augment its lustre: the foil is a mixture of mastich and burnt ivory. Nehemiah Grew, Musæum.

   Hector has a foil to set him off: we are perpetually opposing the incontinence of Paris to the temperance of Hector. Notes on the Odyssey.

   4. [From fouiller, French.] A blunt sword used in fencing.

   He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of me: the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

2. To FOILverb

   To put to the worst; to defeat, though without a complete victory.

   Etymology: affoler, to wound, old French.

   Amazement seiz’d
   The rebel thrones; but greater rage to see
   Thus foil’d their mightiest. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. vi.

   Leader of those armies bright,
   Which but th’ omnipotent none could have foil’d! John Milton.

   Yet these subject not: I to thee disclose
   What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil’d:
   Who meet with various objects, from the sense Variously representing; yet still free,
   Approve the best, and follow what I approve. John Milton, P. Lost.

   Strange, that your fingers should the pencil foil,
   Without the help of colours or of oil! Edmund Waller.

   He had been foiled in the cure, and had left it to nature. Richard Wiseman, Surgery.

   In their conflicts with sin they have been so often foiled, that they now despair of ever getting the day. Edmund Calamy, Serm.

   Virtue, disdain, despair, I oft have try’d;
   And, foil’d, have with new arms my foe defy’d. Dryden.

   But I, the consort of the Thunderer,
   Have wag’d a long and unsuccessful war;
   With various arts and arms in vain have toil’d,
   And by a mortal man at length am foil’d. John Dryden, Æn.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. foil

   Foil is a literary device used to highlight or reveal certain traits and characteristics of a character by contrasting them with another character. This comparative character often possesses traits that are opposite to the main character, amplifying their qualities, emotions, or motivations. The term ‘foil’ originally comes from the practice of backing gems with foil to make them shine more brightly in jewelry. Additionally, foil can also refer to a thin sheet of metal, often used for packaging or cooking.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Foilverb

   to tread under foot; to trample

2. Foilverb

   to render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat

3. Foilverb

   to blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase

4. Foilverb

   to defile; to soil

5. Foilnoun

   failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage

6. Foilnoun

   a blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point

7. Foilnoun

   the track or trail of an animal

8. Foilnoun

   a leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold foil

9. Foilnoun

   a thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; -- employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones

10. Foilnoun

    anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage

11. Foilnoun

    a thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection

12. Foilnoun

    the space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the number of arcs of which it is composed

13. Etymology: [See 6th File.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Foil

   In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. A foil usually either differs drastically or is extremely similar but with a key difference setting them apart. The concept of a foil is also more widely applied to any comparison that is made to contrast a difference between two things. Thomas F. Gieryn places these uses of literary foils into three categories which Tamara Antoine and Pauline Metze explain as: those that emphasize the heightened contrast, those that operate by exclusion, and those that assign blame. In Pride and Prejudice, Mary's absorption in her studies places her as a foil to her sister Elizabeth Bennet's lively and distracted nature. Similarly, in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the character Brutus has foils in the two characters Cassius and Mark Antony. In the Harry Potter series, Draco Malfoy can be seen as a foil to the Harry Potter character; Professor Snape enables both characters "to experience the essential adventures of self-determination" but they make different choices.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Foil

   foil, v.t. to defeat: to puzzle: to disappoint: (Spens.) to beat down or trample with the feet:—pr.p. foil′ing; pa.p. foiled.—n. failure after success seemed certain: defeat: a blunt sword used in fencing, having a button on the point.—Put to the foil, to blemish. [O. Fr. fuler, to stamp or crush—Low L. fullare—fullo, a fuller of cloth.]

2. Foil

   foil, n. a leaf or thin plate of metal, as tin-foil: a thin leaf of metal put under precious stones to increase their lustre or change their colour: anything that serves to set off something else: a small arc in the tracery of a window, &c. (trefoiled, cinquefoiled, multifoiled, &c.).—adj. Foiled.—n. Foil′ing. [O. Fr. foil (Fr. feuille)—L. folium, a leaf.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. foil

   A blunt, elastic, sword-like implement used in fencing.--To foil means to disconcert or defeat an enemy's intention.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. foil

   A long piece of steel of an elastic temper, mounted somewhat like a sword, which is used to learn to fence with; it is without a point, or any sharpness, having a button at the extremity covered with leather.

2. foil

   To render vain or nugatory as an effort or attempt; to frustrate; to defeat; to baffle; to balk; as, the enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled; he foiled his adversaries.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FOIL

   What does FOIL stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FOIL acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FOIL

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Foil is ranked #45804 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Foil surname appeared 466 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Foil.
   
   95.9% or 447 total occurrences were White.
   1.9% or 9 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1.5% or 7 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

1. • Attention
   • Contrast
   • Cover
   • Device
   • Picture
   • Sheet Metal

Anagrams for FOIL »

1. Filo

2. filo

3. LIFO

4. lo-fi

How to pronounce FOIL?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say FOIL in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of FOIL in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of FOIL in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of FOIL in a Sentence

1. Bill Hammond:

   Cuomo does get kid-glove treatment from some in the media (especially when he does quick-hit appearances on national TV) but not from the Capitol press corps reporters who cover him on a daily basis. He and his P.R. staff are generally awful to deal with, so there is little love lost. If they dont ask about the nursing home issue more often, its probably because they know they wont get straight answers and they have dozens of other issues to cover. They might be pushing behind the scenes, and many reporters have filed FOIL requests similar to mine.

2. Amanda Rettke:

   I just grabbed and spoon and rolled up some aluminum foil and thats the first video.

3. Eric Phillips:

   D.O.I. is right, employees are supposed to use their government email for government work. That’s always been the protocol and we remind City Hall and agency staff of that frequently. We consider personal email and documents in someone’s personal possession subject to FOIL when they relate to government business.

4. The Israeli source:

   Government agencies struggling to foil terror attacks need access to technologies that allow them to connect their data fragments, making it possible to handle daily data challenges, with this system, all data can then be easily navigated, processed and represented by employing a set of powerful analytic tools and unique algorithms.

5. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

   Serious work must take place. We can withstand the sanctions and neutralize and foil the enemy's goals. If we don't, the enemy would proceed and place conditions on our nuclear program and impose sanctions, if sanctions are to be the way, the Iranian nation can also do it. A big collection of the world's oil and gas is in Iran so Iran if necessary can hold back on the gas that Europe and the world is so dependent on.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=FOIL
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Foil
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=FOIL
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/FOIL
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=FOIL
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=FOIL
8. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=FOIL
9. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html
10. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
    https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html