Definition of foils in English

Part of speech

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foils, verb, present, 3rd person singular of foil (infinitive).
foils, noun, plural of foil.

WordNet

Noun Plural: foils
foil - a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil"
		sheet metal sheet of metal formed into a thin plate
		aluminium foil, aluminum foil, tin foil foil made of aluminum
		chaff foil in thin strips; ejected into the air as a radar countermeasure
		gold foil foil made of gold
foil - picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector
		transparency
		ikon, icon, image, picture a conventional religious painting in oil on a small wooden panel; venerated in the Eastern Church
		lantern slide, slide the act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it; "his slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill"; "the children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope"
foil - anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities; "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"
		enhancer
		attention a courteous act indicating affection; "she tried to win his heart with her many attentions"
foil - a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button
		fencing sword a sword used in the sport of fencing
foil - 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"
		hydrofoil
Verb foils, foiling, foiled
foil - cover or back with foil; "foil mirrors"
		cover clothe, as if for protection from the elements; "cover your head!"
foil - enhance by contrast; "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background"
		contrast, counterpoint put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"
foil - hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"
		thwart, queer, spoil, scotch, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk
		forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent command against; "I forbid you to call me late at night"; "Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store"; "Dad nixed our plans"
		double cross betray by double-dealing
		disappoint, let down fail to meet the hopes or expectations of; "Her boyfriend let her down when he did not propose marriage"
		dash add an enlivening or altering element to; "blue paint dashed with white"
		short-circuit create a short circuit in
		ruin fall into ruin

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Wiktionary

foil (Verb)
To apply the FOIL algorithm to.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

foil (v. t.)
To tread under foot; to trample.
foil (v. t.)
To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.
foil (v. t.)
To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase.
foil (v. t.)
To defile; to soil.
foil (n.)
Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.
foil (n.)
A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.
foil (n.)
The track or trail of an animal.
foil (n.)
A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold foil.
foil (n.)
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.
foil (n.)
Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage.
foil (n.)
A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection.
foil (n.)
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.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

foil
A piece of thin and flexible sheet metal.
foil
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.
foil
Anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities.
foil
A light slender flexible sword tipped by a button.
foil
A picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector.
foil
To cover or back with foil.
foil
To enhance by contrast.
foil
To hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

foil
foil, v.t. to defeat: to puzzle: to disappoint: (Spens.) to beat down or trample with the feet:—pr.p. foil′ing; pa.p. foiled.—n. failure after success seemed certain: defeat: a blunt sword used in fencing, having a button on the point.—Put to the foil, to blemish. [O. Fr. fuler, to stamp or crush—Low L. fullare—fullo, a fuller of cloth.]
foil
foil, n. a leaf or thin plate of metal, as tin-foil: a thin leaf of metal put under precious stones to increase their lustre or change their colour: anything that serves to set off something else: a small arc in the tracery of a window, &c. (trefoiled, cinquefoiled, multifoiled, &c.).—adj. Foiled.—n. Foil′ing. [O. Fr. foil (Fr. feuille)—L. folium, a leaf.]

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

foil
A blunt, elastic, sword-like implement used in fencing.--To foil means to disconcert or defeat an enemy's intention.

Military DictionaryMilitary Dictionary and Gazetteer 💥

foil
A long piece of steel of an elastic temper, mounted somewhat like a sword, which is used to learn to fence with; it is without a point, or any sharpness, having a button at the extremity covered with leather.
foil
To render vain or nugatory as an effort or attempt; to frustrate; to defeat; to baffle; to balk; as, the enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled; he foiled his adversaries.