foil
noun
1. a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal
- the photographic film was wrapped in foil
Definition categories: man–made
2. anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities
- pretty girls like plain friends as foils
Similar word(s): enhancer
Definition categories: thought, attention
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
Similar word(s): hydrofoil
Definition categories: man–made, device
4. picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector
Similar word(s): transparency
Definition categories: man–made, icon, ikon, image, picture
5. a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button
Definition categories: man–made
verb
1. enhance by contrast
- In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background
Definition categories: stative, contrast, counterpoint
2. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
- foil your opponent
Similar word(s): baffle, bilk, cross, frustrate, scotch, spoil, thwart
Definition categories: social, forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent
3. cover or back with foil
- foil mirrors