foil

Definitions

1. 1transitive verb

   To tread under foot; to trample.

2. 2transitive verb

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

3. 3transitive verb

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

4. 4transitive verb

   To defile; to soil.

5. 5noun

   Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.

6. 6noun

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

7. 7noun

   The track or trail of an animal.

8. 8noun

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

9. 9noun

   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. 10noun

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

11. 11noun

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

12. 12noun

    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. 13noun

    a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button

14. 14noun

    a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal

    "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"

15. 15noun

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

    Synonyms

    transparency
16. 16noun

    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"

    Synonyms

    hydrofoil
17. 17noun

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

    "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"

    Synonyms

    enhancer
18. 18verb

    cover or back with foil

    "foil mirrors"

19. 19verb

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

    "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"

    "foil your opponent"

    Synonyms

    bafflebilkcrossfrustratequeerscotchspoilthwart
20. 20verb

    enhance by contrast

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