Foil - English meaning

noun

A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

Usage examples:

Love is the antithesis of selfishness

noun

The part of a picture, scene, or design that forms a setting for the main figures or objects, or appears furthest from the viewer.

Usage examples:

The house stands against a background of sheltering trees

verb

Form a background to.

Usage examples:

Windswept land backgrounded by the rockies

noun

Things that appear to be farther away or behind what is nearer or in front, esp. in a picture

Usage examples:

[ c ] he photographed the models against different backgrounds., [ u ] with so much noise in the ba…

verb

Hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.

Usage examples:

He balked at such a drastic solution

noun

A roughly squared timber beam.

Usage examples:

A balk of timber

verb

To be unwilling to do something or let something happen

Usage examples:

I balked at the prospect of spending four hours on a train with him.

noun

A large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side.

Usage examples:

A block of marble

verb

Make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible.

Usage examples:

The narrow roads were blocked by cars

verb

Obstruct

verb

Examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.

Usage examples:

Customs officers have the right to check all luggage

noun

An examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition.

Usage examples:

A campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances

exclamation

Us spelling of cheque.

noun

A thing that contributes extra features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality.

Usage examples:

Local ales provide the perfect complement to fine food

verb

Contribute extra features to (someone or something) in such a way as to improve or emphasize their qualities.

Usage examples:

A classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual

verb

To help make something or someone more complete or effective

Usage examples:

She used photographs to complement the text of the news story., this ancient chinese therapy is par…

noun

The state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.

Usage examples:

The day began cold and blustery, in contrast to almost two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine

verb

Differ strikingly.

Usage examples:

His friend's success contrasted with his own failure

noun

An easily noticed or understood difference between two or more things

Usage examples:

[ u ] she is quite petite, in contrast with her tall sister., [ c ] contrasts between manhattan’s r…

noun

A long flat-topped fitment across which business is conducted in a shop or bank or refreshments are served in a cafeteria.

Usage examples:

Having eaten these we were hard pressed to ignore the shop counter as we departed.

verb

Speak or act in opposition to.

Usage examples:

The second argument is more difficult to counter

adverb

In the opposite direction or in opposition to.

Usage examples:

His writing ran counter to the dominant trends of the decade

verb

Cause severe and disabling damage to; deprive of the ability to function normally.

Usage examples:

Developing countries are crippled by their debts

noun

A person with a severe limitation of a specified kind.

Usage examples:

An emotional cripple

verb

Deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

Win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat.

Usage examples:

Garibaldi defeated the neapolitan army

noun

An instance of defeating or being defeated.

Usage examples:

A 1–0 defeat by grimsby

verb

To oppose and cause someone to lose in a competition or war so that you can win

Usage examples:

Bill clinton defeated george bush for the presidency in 1992., [ u ] in the american civil war, the…

verb

Cause (a train or tram) to leave its tracks accidentally.

Usage examples:

A train was derailed after it collided with a herd of cattle

verb

To cause a train to run off the tracks

Usage examples:

Fig. renewed fighting threatens to derail the peace talks (= stop them from continuing).

verb

To stop something from succeeding

Usage examples:

Investors are very concerned that a new crisis could derail the economic recovery., analysts identi…

verb

Fail to fulfil the hopes or expectations of.

Usage examples:

I have no wish to disappoint everyone by postponing the visit

verb

To fail to satisfy someone’s hopes or expectations

Usage examples:

I hate to disappoint you, but we don’t have the book you wanted.

verb

Prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.

Usage examples:

The rescue attempt was frustrated by bad weather

adjective

Frustrated.

Hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

noun

A basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery, and plates on a picnic.

Usage examples:

A picnic hamper

verb

Hinder or impede the movement or progress of.

Usage examples:

Their work is hampered by lack of funds

noun

Necessary but cumbersome equipment on a ship.

Usage examples:

The mass of the top hamper must be consciously balanced against the tremendous beam.

verb

Make it difficult for (someone) to do something or for (something) to happen.

Usage examples:

Language barriers hindered communication between scientists

adjective

(especially of a bodily part) rear; hind.

Usage examples:

The hinder end of its body

verb

To limit the ability of someone to do something, or to limit the development of something

Usage examples:

A poor diet can hinder mental and physical growth., i don’t know if these changes are going to help…

verb

Delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder.

Usage examples:

The sap causes swelling which can impede breathing

verb

Block (an opening, path, road, etc.); be or get in the way of.

Usage examples:

She was obstructing the entrance

verb

Disagree with and attempt to prevent, especially by argument.

Usage examples:

A majority of the electorate opposed ec membership

verb

To disagree with something, often by speaking or fighting against it

Usage examples:

The governor adamantly/vehemently opposes raising taxes., the opposing sides failed to reach agreem…

verb

To disagree with something or someone, and speak or take action against them

Usage examples:

Most local residents opposed the building of the shopping mall., the proposed tax rise has been vig…

abbreviation

Page.

Usage examples:

See p 784

symbol

(in units of measurement) pico- (10−12).

Usage examples:

A 220 pf capacitor

noun

The sixteenth letter of the alphabet.

Usage examples:

Let’s have an ‘s’ for speedy, and a ‘p’ for polly, intertwined on the top of the cake, in red frost…

verb

Keep (something) from happening.

Usage examples:

Action must be taken to prevent further accidents

verb

To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

Usage examples:

The police tried to prevent him from leaving., can this type of accident be prevented?, fortunately…

noun

A feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.

Usage examples:

Much to her relief, she saw the door open

noun

A feeling of happiness that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended

Usage examples:

She breathed a sigh of relief when she finished her exams., aspirin may give you some relief., disa…

noun

Financial help that is given to people, companies, or countries that cannot pay their taxes or debts

Usage examples:

All of the more than 3 million people who file income taxes in virginia will be eligible for the $1…

verb

Decisively put an end to.

Usage examples:

A spokesman has scotched the rumours

noun

A wedge placed under a wheel or other rolling object to prevent it moving or slipping.

noun

A cut or score in skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

A scotch in his face

noun

The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.

Usage examples:

A romantic house in a wonderful setting beside the river wye

verb

Put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.

Usage examples:

Delaney set the mug of tea down

verb

Group (pupils or students) in sets according to ability.

verb

Violently break (something) into pieces.

Usage examples:

The thief smashed a window to get into the car

noun

An act or sound of something smashing.

Usage examples:

He heard the smash of glass

adverb

With a sudden, violent shattering.

Usage examples:

They were together for an instant, and then smash it was all gone

noun

A game played with cues on a billiard table in which the players use a cue ball (white) to pocket the other balls (fifteen red and six coloured) in a set order.

Usage examples:

A snooker hall

verb

Subject (oneself or one's opponent) to a snooker.

Usage examples:

He potted yellow and green, and then snookered davis on the brown

noun

A game played, especially in the uk, by two people in which cues (= long, thin poles) and a cue ball are used to hit 15 red balls and six balls of different colours into six holes around a table covered in soft cloth in a fixed order

Usage examples:

Stevens conceded after failing to escape from a series of snookers., he potted a long yellow ball t…

verb

(of an event, action, or process) come to an end; cease to happen.

Usage examples:

His laughter stopped as quickly as it had begun

noun

A cessation of movement or operation.

Usage examples:

All business came to a stop

verb

Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense

verb

Prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

Usage examples:

He never did anything to thwart his father

noun

A structural crosspiece forming a seat for a rower in a boat.

Usage examples:

Her hull is painted white with blue trim on the thwarts.

preposition

From one side to another side of (an area); across.

Usage examples:

A pink-tinged cloud spread thwart the shore