Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "foil" []

  • To prevent from being successful; thwart. (verb-transitive)
  • To obscure or confuse (a trail or scent) so as to evade pursuers. (verb-transitive)
  • Archaic A repulse; a setback. (noun)
  • Archaic The trail or scent of an animal. (noun)
  • A thin, flexible leaf or sheet of metal: aluminum foil. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "foil" in a sentence
  • "So basically, one using tin foil is trying to keep the truth out, not amplify government corruption, or conspiracy as you morons call it."
  • "- Direct Optical Music: redesigning your optical drive to play the tonal qualities of, say, a piece of metallic lace or a piece of tin foil"
  • "My grandmother used to bake potatoes in foil having sliced them in a few places, added dabs of butter, and slices of onions."