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fold1 definition

fold (fōld)

transitive verb

    1. to bend or press (something) so that one part is over another; double up on itself to fold a sheet
    2. to make more compact by so doubling a number of times
  1. to draw together and intertwine to fold the arms
  2. to draw (wings) close to the body
  3. to clasp in the arms; embrace
  4. to wrap up; envelop

Etymology: ME folden < OE faldan (WS fealdan), akin to Ger falten < IE *pel-to < base *pel-, to fold > (sim)ple, (tri)ple

intransitive verb

  1. to be or become folded
  2. Informal to fail; specif.,
    1. to be forced to close, as a business, play, etc.
    2. to succumb, as to exhaustion; collapse
  3. Poker to withdraw from the betting on a hand, specif. by turning over one's exposed cards

noun

  1. a folded part or layer
  2. a mark made by folding
  3. a hollow or crease produced by folded parts or layers
  4. Brit. a hollow; small valley
  5. Geol. a rock layer folded by pressure
fold Idioms

fold in

Cooking to blend (an ingredient) into a mixture, using gentle, cutting strokes
fold2 definition

fold (fōld)

noun

  1. a pen in which to keep sheep
  2. sheep kept together; flock of sheep
  3. a group or organization with common interests, aims, faith, etc., as a church

Etymology: ME < OE fald, akin to Du vaalt, enclosed place, Dan fold, sheep pen

transitive verb

to keep or confine in a pen

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
fold Synonyms

fold

n.

  1. Folded material

    lap, pleat, plait, lapel, tuck, overlap, folded portion, part turned over, part turned back, shirring, smocking, gathers, gatherings, doubled material.

  2. The line at which material is folded

    crease, turn, folded edge, crimp, wrinkle, knife-edge, pleat, plait, corrugation.

  3. Animal pen

    cage, corral, coop; see enclosure 1.


fold

v.

  1. To enclose

    envelop, wrap up, do up; see wrap 1, 2.

  2. To place or lay in folds

    double, pleat, plait, crease, curl, crimp, wrinkle, crinkle, crumple, laminate, ruffle, corrugate, pucker, gather, double over, telescope, lap, overlap, dogear.

    Antonyms unfold*, straighten*, expand. *

  3. *To fail

    go out of business, close, collapse; see fail 4, give 4.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fold Usage Examples

Object

  • dipole: It remains unclear, to me anyway, whether there is a genuine problem with modeling folded dipoles in software.

Noun used with modifier

  • skin: It is more common and troublesome in overweight people and people with deep skin folds.

Adjective modifier

  • mucosal: The normal gastric mucosal folds are absent over the mass itself.

Preposition: into

  • conformation: During or after this cleavage, folding into the mature conformation occurs.

Adjective complement

  • oversized: Features 5 ball bearings, infinite anti-reverse, folding oversized handle and multi disk front drag.

Modifying Another Word

  • neatly: More than the bundle of clothes neatly folded on his bed.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • over: The end that is held can be folded over and sewn to form a loop to place the hands in.

Particle object: out_obj

  • flap: It has a pocket opening with fold out flap which will also hold boosters in place.

Preposition: in

  • flour: Fold in the flour, then add enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency.

Preposition: of

  • skin: You may develop loose folds of skin on the upper eyelids and deep creases on the lower lids.

Preposition: for

  • storage: When not in use the tripod can be folded away for easy storage.
fold usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

fold quotes

   I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.Iamthegood shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and theyshall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Like the Arabs, I fold my tens and silently steal away. See Longfellow 516:50.

-Kaufman, George S(imon)

Go out on the front porch of the house, turn the Washington Post over with your big toe, and if your name's above the fold, you know you're not going to have a good day.

-Lance, Bert

fold quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"fold." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fold>

APA Style

fold. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fold

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