verb

fold

FOHLD

verb

To bend something, especially paper or fabric, over on itself.

"She folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope."

"He folded the laundry while watching television."

To stop or withdraw, especially from a card game bet or a failing business.

"He decided to fold rather than risk more chips."

"The struggling company folded after just two years."

noun

A crease or bend made by folding.

"Smooth out the fold before you seal the envelope."

A fenced enclosure for keeping sheep, or, figuratively, a group united by shared belief or purpose.

"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 notes

In 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

Word Forms

folded past tense, folden past tense, folded past tense, folds plural, folds plural, folds singular, folds singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the letter and slipped it into an envelope.

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.

Antonyms

unfold

Related Words

bend reveal unfold interpret

Rhymes for fold

old gold cold bold hold sold mold scold ahold behold uphold untold

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