foil — ozdic

Collocations

9

1

(noun.) metal in a thin sheet

ADJ

aluminium, gold, silver, tin | kitchen

QUANT

piece, sheet | roll

VERB + FOIL

cover sth with, wrap sth in

She covered the leftover cake with foil to keep it fresh in the refrigerator.

2

(noun.) sth that shows off the qualities of sth else

ADJ

good, ideal, perfect

VERB + FOIL

be, provide

PREP

as a ~

The dark walls serve as a foil to make the white paintings stand out even more.

~ for/to

His serious personality was an excellent foil to her playful sense of humor.

Definitions

name

1

An acronym for the algorithm for multiplying two binomials.

verb

1

To apply the FOIL algorithm to.

noun

1

A very thin sheet of metal or plastic.

2

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

wrap the sandwich up in foil

3

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

4

In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character and who usually acts as an opponent or antagonist, but can also serve as the sidekick of the protagonist.

Whereas the female invests heavily in the wake of conception, the male invests heavily prior to conception. Hitherto, the male has been regarded as the mere foil to the heavy investment in reproduction that renders the female the logjam (the limiting factor) in reproduction – reproduction overall is expandable by increasing the number of females, not by increasing the number of males.

As Puss comes to realize his legendary status is not a substitute for interpersonal connection, his interactions with Kitty and the therapy dog start to take on a surprising amount of weight, while Goldilocks serves as a well-realized foil who has more in common with Puss that is at first apparent.

5

Anything that acts by contrast to emphasise the characteristics of something.

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

1725-1726, William Broome, The Odyssey Hector has also a foil to set regard

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a

transparency

noun — a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal pl

hydrofoil

noun — anything that serves by contrast to call attention to anothe

enhancer

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

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

6

01

wrap the sandwich up in foil

Wiktionary

02

Whereas the female invests heavily in the wake of conception, the male invests heavily prior to conception. Hitherto, the male has been regarded as the mere foil to the heavy investment in reproductio

Wiktionary

03

As Puss comes to realize his legendary status is not a substitute for interpersonal connection, his interactions with Kitty and the therapy dog start to take on a surprising amount of weight, while Go

Wiktionary

04

They foiled my plans.

Wiktionary

05

I was foiled by my superior

Wiktionary

06

And at the field fought before Bebriacum, ere the battailes joyned, tvvo Ægles had a conflict and bickered together in all their fights: and vvhen the one of them was foyled and overcome, a third came

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, foil is marked as figuratively, obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.