fold
FOHLD
Fold (verb) means to bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself. Example: “Please fold the towels in half before you put them in the cupboard.”
verb
1
To bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself.
"Please fold the towels in half before you put them in the cupboard."
"She folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope."
"He folded the laundry while watching television."
2
To stop or withdraw, especially from a card game bet or a failing business.
"After three bad hands, I chose to fold and watch the others play."
"He decided to fold rather than risk more chips."
"The struggling company folded after just two years."
noun
1
A crease or bend made by folding.
"There was a deep fold in the map where it had been stored badly."
"Press along the fold with your thumb to make it sharp."
"Smooth out the fold before you seal the envelope."
2
A fenced enclosure for keeping sheep, or, figuratively, a group united by shared belief or purpose.
"The vicar was glad to welcome new members into the fold."
"The shepherd led the sheep back into the fold."
"After years away, she finally returned to the fold of the family business."
How to use fold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bend something over itself (paper, arms, laundry), to quit (in poker or business), or (separately) an enclosure for animals / a group one belongs to.
Common pairings
fold the laundry
fold under pressure
return to the fold
fold a hand
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Word forms
- Plural
- folds
- Third person singular
- folds
- Past tense
- folded, folden
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ the towels in half before you put them in the cupboard.
Etymology
The verb comes from Old English fealdan, an ancient Germanic word for bending something over on itself; the noun meaning "sheep pen" is a separate, older English word that happens to share the same spelling.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fold
See all rhymes for fold →Frequently asked questions
What does “fold” mean?
The word “fold” means to bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself. In plain terms, to bend something over itself (paper, arms, laundry), to quit (in poker or business), or (separately) an enclosure for animals / a group one belongs to.
How do you pronounce “fold”?
“Fold” is pronounced FOHLD (/foʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “fold” in a sentence?
Here is “fold” used in a sentence: “She folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope.”
What is the opposite of “fold”?
The opposite of “fold” — its antonyms — is unfold.
What part of speech is “fold”?
Depending on how it is used, “fold” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “fold” come from?
The word “fold” comes from Old English. The verb comes from Old English fealdan, an ancient Germanic word for bending something over on itself; the noun meaning "sheep pen" is a separate, older English word that happens to share the same spelling.
Is “fold” a common word?
“Fold” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “fold” have?
“Fold” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself.
What is the difference between fold and crease?
Fold describes the action of bending something over on itself or the resulting shape, while crease specifically refers to the line or mark left behind after folding. You fold a piece of paper, and the fold leaves a crease along the bend.
What does it mean to fold in a card game?
To fold in a card game, especially poker, means to stop betting and withdraw from the current hand, forfeiting any chance of winning that round. The term also extends figuratively to a business or venture withdrawing or shutting down.
What is the meaning of fold as it relates to sheep?
As a noun, a fold is a fenced enclosure used for keeping sheep. Figuratively, it also refers to a group of people united by a shared belief or purpose, as in "welcomed back into the fold."
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