foils

IPA/fˈɔɪlz/
KK[fˈɔɪlz]IPA/fˈɔɪlz/

foils — noun

1. an extremely thin layer of metal, often wrapped around food so it stays fresh.

1.nounB1
Definition

an extremely thin layer of metal, often wrapped around food so it stays fresh.

Example

Salma wrapped the warm corn in foil before packing the picnic basket.

wrap food in foil to keep it fresh

The baker covered the pie with foil when the crust browned too fast.

Common collocations
  • aluminum foil
  • kitchen foil
  • wrap food in foil
  • cover the tray with foil
Synonyms
  • sheet metal

    broader and often thicker than this everyday wrapping material

  • aluminum foil

    the most common household type of this material

Grammar Patterns

wrap food in foil

cover something with foil

a sheet of foil

Usage Note

Usually refers to kitchen wrapping material. Distinguish it from sense 2, where each foil is a separate piece wrapped around hair during coloring.

2. a small piece of thin metal or paper folded around a section of hair while its c

2.nounC1
Definition

a small piece of thin metal or paper folded around a section of hair while its color is changed.

Example

Élise stacked clean foils beside the chair before the color appointment.

foils used before a hair-color appointment

The stylist slid fresh foils under Mira's curls to add pale streaks.

Common collocations
  • hair foils
  • fresh foils
  • foils in the hair
  • slide foils under curls
Synonyms
  • wrap

    much broader and not specific to salon coloring

  • strip

    describes the shape but not its hair-coloring purpose

Grammar Patterns

put foils in someone's hair

slide a foil under a section of hair

Usage Note

Used in salons when small sections of hair are wrapped during coloring. Unlike sense 1, these foils are single pieces placed around hair, not general food wrapping material.

3. a person or thing that makes someone else's qualities stand out because they are

3.nounC1
Definition

a person or thing that makes someone else's qualities stand out because they are so different.

Example

Kenji's quiet kindness made Omar's rude jokes a harsh foil.

a foil that makes another quality stand out

The bare stone wall was a perfect foil for the bright mural.

Common collocations
  • a foil for the hero
  • comic foil
  • perfect foil
  • serve as a foil
Synonyms
  • contrast

    focuses on difference itself, not the person or thing creating it

  • counterpart

    can mean a matching partner, not necessarily one that highlights difference

Grammar Patterns

a foil for something

serve as a foil to someone

Usage Note

Often used when one person, object, or style makes another stand out more clearly. This sense is about contrast, not metal or fencing equipment.

4. a light narrow sword used in fencing.

4.nounB2
Definition

a light narrow sword used in fencing.

Example

Arjun practiced lunges with a foil before the school fencing match.

practice with a foil in fencing

The coach checked each foil for loose wires after the tournament.

Common collocations
  • fencing foil
  • foil bout
  • electric foil
  • borrow a foil
Synonyms
  • blade

    much broader and not specific to fencing

  • weapon

    general term that does not identify this sport tool

Grammar Patterns

fence with a foil

pick up a foil

Usage Note

Names the weapon rather than the sport. It is the light flexible sword used in one kind of fencing event.

foils — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Prevent', 'block', 'thwart', and 'foil' all describe stopping something, but they are not used in exactly the same way. 'Prevent' is the broad everyday word and often means keeping an event from happening at all. 'Block' suggests getting in the way physically or practically. 'Thwart' is more formal and stresses frustrating someone's effort. 'Foil' often appears in news or story-like contexts when a plan, attack, escape, or crime is stopped close to the point of success. If guards stop a robbery before it starts, you can say they prevented it; if they stop it in a dramatic last-moment way, 'foiled the robbery' sounds especially natural.

prevent ↗block ↗thwart ↗foil ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • wrap food in foil
  • put foils in the hair
  • serve as a foil
  • foil a plan

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchEnglish

The thin-metal sense of 'foil' came into English through French from a word linked to a leaf, which suits the idea of an extremely thin layer. The contrast noun grew from the practice of setting something against foil so its qualities looked brighter or clearer. The verb meaning 'stop or defeat' developed through a different French line connected with checking or blunting an opponent, which is why the word now carries both material and opposition meanings.