English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

mold

mohld
Quiz me More like this

Also spelled mould (UK spelling)

Mold (noun) means a hollow container used to shape a liquid or soft substance as it sets or hardens. Example: “She poured the melted chocolate into a heart-shaped mold.”

noun
1
A hollow container used to shape a liquid or soft substance as it sets or hardens.
"She poured the melted chocolate into a heart-shaped mold."
"Pour the jelly into the mold and leave it in the fridge overnight."
"He made a plaster cast by pressing clay into a small mold."
2
A fuzzy fungal growth that develops on food or damp surfaces.
"Green mold had spread across the old loaf of bread."
"There was black mold on the bathroom wall after the pipe leaked."
"Throw away the cheese if you see any mold on it."
verb
1
To shape something, or to influence how a person or thing develops.
"Good coaches mold young athletes as much as they train them."
"The clay was molded into a small bowl."
"Her years abroad helped to mold her views about the world."

How to use mold

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a shaping container/pattern, or the furry fungus that grows on old food and damp walls — two unrelated meanings that happen to share a spelling.

UK vs US

Spelled "mould" in British English, for both the shaping and fungus senses.

Easily confused with
mould → mildew →
Common pairings
ice cube mold black mold break the mold
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mold.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
molds
Third person singular
molds
Past tense
molded
Test yourself on “mold” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She poured the melted chocolate into a heart-shaped _____.

Etymology

The shaping sense comes from Old French modle, from Latin modulus/modus. The fungus sense has a separate Old English root related to soil.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →
cast template form shape mildew modelling modeling moulding molding stamp mould regulate

Related words

make put body form type project range drop

Rhymes for mold

old gold cold bold hold sold fold scold
See all rhymes for mold →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mold” mean?
The word “mold” means a hollow container used to shape a liquid or soft substance as it sets or hardens. In plain terms, either a shaping container/pattern, or the furry fungus that grows on old food and damp walls — two unrelated meanings that happen to share a spelling.
How do you pronounce “mold”?
“Mold” is pronounced mohld (/moʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “mold” in a sentence?
Here is “mold” used in a sentence: “She poured the melted chocolate into a heart-shaped mold.”
What part of speech is “mold”?
Depending on how it is used, “mold” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mold” come from?
The word “mold” comes from Latin. The shaping sense comes from Old French modle, from Latin modulus/modus. The fungus sense has a separate Old English root related to soil.
Is “mold” a common word?
“Mold” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “mold” have?
“Mold” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hollow container used to shape a liquid or soft substance as it sets or hardens.
What is the difference between mold and mould?
Mold is the standard American English spelling, while mould is used in British, Australian, and most other varieties of English. Both spellings refer to the same meanings, including a shaping container, the verb meaning to shape, and the fungal growth.
What is the difference between mold and fungus?
Mold refers specifically to a fuzzy fungal growth that develops on food or damp surfaces, while fungus is the broader biological category that includes mold along with yeasts, mushrooms, and other organisms. In other words, mold is a type of fungus, not a separate thing.
How is mold used as a verb?
As a verb, mold means to shape something physically, such as molding clay, or to influence how a person or thing develops over time, such as experiences that mold someone's character. This usage is figurative in the second sense and literal in the first.

People also searched

make put body form type project range drop