Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin folium 'leaf'

foil

1 noun
     
foil
Related topics: Food, Other Sports
foil1
1 [uncountable]DF 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]DF 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.
foil
4 [countable]DSO a light narrow sword used in fencing
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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