Definitions for FOILfɔɪl

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word FOIL

Princeton's WordNet

  1. foil(noun)

    a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

    "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"

  2. foil, enhancer(noun)


    "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"

  3. hydrofoil, foil(noun)


    "the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils"

  4. foil, transparency(noun)


  5. foil(verb)

    a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

  6. foil(verb)

    enhance by contrast





  8. foil(verb)

    cover or back with foil

    "foil mirrors"


  1. FOIL(Verb)

    To apply the FOIL algorithm to.

  2. FOIL(ProperNoun)

    A particular algorithm for multiplying two binomials.

  3. foil(Noun)

    A very thin sheet of metal.

  4. foil(Noun)

    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


  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. foil(Verb)

    To prevent (something) from being accomplished.

  13. foil(Verb)

    To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

  14. foil(Noun)

    The track of an animal.

  15. foil(Verb)

    To multiply two binomials together.

  16. foil

    Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil.

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

Webster Dictionary

  1. Foil(verb)

    to tread under foot; to trample

  2. Foil(verb)


  3. Foil(verb)

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

  4. Foil(verb)

    to defile; to soil

  5. Foil(noun)

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

  6. Foil(noun)


  7. Foil(noun)

    the track or trail of an animal

  8. Foil(noun)


  9. Foil(noun)


  10. Foil(noun)


  11. Foil(noun)


  12. Foil(noun)


  13. Origin: [See 6th File.]


  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.

Anagrams of FOIL »

  1. Filo, filo, LIFO, lo-fi

Translations for FOIL

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • станиол, фолио, рапира, варакBulgarian
  • paper d'alumini, floret, fullCatalan, Valencian
  • fólieCzech
  • Kontrastfigur, Aluminiumfolie, Folie, hintertreiben, FlorettGerman
  • ματαιώνω, αλουμινόχαρτο, ελαφρύ ξίφος ξιφασκίας, έλασμαGreek
  • papel de aluminio, lámina de metal, frustrar, folio, floreteSpanish
  • فویلPersian
  • estää, kertoa, folio, florettiFinnish
  • feuille, alu, déjouer, fleuret, papier d'aluminiumFrench
  • cliwe crammanaghManx
  • डाकHindi
  • meghiúsítHungarian
  • ֆոլգա, խափանել, փայլաթիթեղ, նրբաթիթեղ, առաջն առնելArmenian
  • lamella, fioretto, sventare, spalla, carta stagnola, laminaItalian
  • 箔, フォイル, 金属裏張り, ホイル, フルーレJapanese
  • ფოლგაGeorgian
  • folija, rapyraLithuanian
  • whakahēhēMāori
  • флоретMacedonian
  • Aluminiumfolie, afweren, verijdelen, uitwerken, floret, frustreren, folieDutch
  • floret, foliaPolish
  • frustrar, papel-alumínio, folha, floretePortuguese
  • предотвращать, рапира, станиоль, фольгаRussian
  • aluminiumfolie, florett, folieSwedish
  • ทำลายThai
  • folyoTurkish

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