Tra từ foil - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

foil [foil foils foiled foiling] noun, verb BrE [fɔɪl] NAmE [fɔɪl]
noun
1. (BrE also ˌsilver ˈfoil)uncountable metal made into very thin sheets that is used for covering or wrapping things, especially food: (BrE)aluminium foil
• (NAmE)aluminum foil
•Cover the fish loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
see also ↑tinfoil
2. uncountable paper that is covered in very thin sheets of metal
•The chocolates are individually wrapped in gold foil.
3. countable ~ (for sb/sth) a person or thing that contrasts with, and therefore emphasizes, the qualities of another person or thing
•The pale walls provide a perfect foil for the furniture.
•His mellow guitar technique is the ideal foil for her soaring voice.
4. countable a long thin light ↑sword used in the sport of ↑fencing

Word Origin:
v. Middle English ‘trample down’ Old French fouler ‘to full cloth, trample’ Latin fullo ‘fuller’ n. senses 1 to 3 Middle English Old French Latin folium ‘leaf’ n. sense 4 late 16th cent.

Example Bank:
•I wrapped the sandwiches in kitchen foil.
•She has used mosses as a foil for the bright red flowers in the bed.
•The couple provided the perfect foil for one another.

verb often passive
to stop sth from happening, especially sth illegal; to prevent sb from doing sth
Syn: ↑thwart
•~ sth to foil a plan/crime/plot
•Customs officials foiled an attempt to smuggle the paintings out of the country.
•~ sb (in sth) They were foiled in their attempt to smuggle the paintings.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
v. Middle English ‘trample down’ Old French fouler ‘to full cloth, trample’ Latin fullo ‘fuller’ n. senses 1 to 3 Middle English Old French Latin folium ‘leaf’ n. sense 4 late 16th cent.

Example Bank:
•Customs officials foiled an attempt to smuggle priceless paintings out of the country.
•The burglary was foiled by a passer-by who called the police.
•The registration plates are designed to foil police speed traps.

See also: ↑silver foil