foil
[verb]
Synonyms: thwart, balk, counter, defeat, disappoint, frustrate, nullify, stop
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[noun]
Synonyms: contrast, antithesis, complement

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Related Words: discomfit, disconcert, embarrass, faze, rattle, curb, restrain

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. foil¹ /fɔɪl/ noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin folium 'leaf']

1. [uncountable] metal sheets that are as thin as paper, used for wrapping food
silver/aluminium/kitchen foil
Cover the chicken with silver foil and bake. ⇒ tinfoil

2. [uncountable] paper that is covered with very thin sheets of metal:
chocolates in foil wrappers

3. be a foil to/for somebody/something to emphasize the good qualities of another person or thing, by being very different from them:
The simple stone floor is the perfect foil for the brightly coloured furnishings.

4.
[countable] a light narrow sword used in fencing

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. foil² verb [transitive often passive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: fouler 'to step on']
to prevent something bad that someone is planning to do:
A massive arms-smuggling plan has been foiled by the CIA.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

foil
noun
I. metal in a thin sheet
ADJ. aluminium, gold, silver, tin | kitchen
QUANT. piece, sheet | roll
VERB + FOIL cover sth with, wrap sth in I wrapped the sandwiches in kitchen foil.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

foil
II. sth that shows off the qualities of sth else
ADJ. good, ideal, perfect
VERB + FOIL be, provide
PREP. as a ~ She has used mosses as a foil for the brightly coloured flowers in the bed.
~ for/to The couple provided the perfect foil for one another.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲