Definition

A very thin sheet made of metal, often aluminum, used for wrapping food or other items to keep them fresh or protected.

Example

She wrapped the leftovers in tinfoil to keep them from drying out.

Conversation

Do you have any tinfoil I can borrow for my leftovers?

Sure, I always keep some in the kitchen drawer.

Thanks! It’s perfect for wrapping sandwiches too.

Absolutely, it keeps them fresh and easy to carry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tinfoil is formed from "tin" (from Old English "tin", meaning a type of metal) and "foil" (from Old French "foille", meaning a thin sheet). The word "tinfoil" refers to a thin sheet made of tin, used for wrapping or covering food.

Memory Tip

Think of 'tin' as the metal used to create a 'thin sheet' ('foil') — that's why tinfoil is a thin sheet made of tin.

Visually Confused Words