Meaning & Definition of Foil in English

1. A piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

• "The photographic film was wrapped in foil"

2. Anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities

• "Pretty girls like plain friends as foils"

3. 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. Picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base

• Viewed with a projector

5. A light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

1. Enhance by contrast

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

2. Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

• "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was ruth's amazing september surge"

• "Foil your opponent"

3. Cover or back with foil

• "Foil mirrors"