fold

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.

“Fold” is pronounced FOHLD (/foʊld/ in IPA).

Here is “fold” used in a sentence: “She folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope.”

The opposite of “fold” — its antonyms — is unfold.

Depending on how it is used, “fold” can be a verb and a noun.

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.

“Fold” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Fold” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself.

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.

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.

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."