fold
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To bend over so that it comes in contact with itself.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
fohldIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈfoʊld
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
transitive
To bend (any thin material, such as paper) over so that it comes in contact with itself.
transitive
To make the proper arrangement (in a thin material) by bending.
transitive
To draw or coil (one's arms, a snake's body, etc.) around something so as to enclose or embrace it.
Incorporate a food ingredient into a mixture by repeatedly turning it over without stirring or beating
“Fold the egg whites into the batter.”
intransitive
To give way on a point or in an argument.
intransitive
To fail, to collapse, to disband.
noun
An act of folding.
“He gave the napkins a double fold.”
That which is folded together, or which enfolds or envelops.
A geological process that causes a bend in a stratum of rock
A bend or crease.
A clasp, embrace.
A coil of a snake's body.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To bend (any thin material, such as paper) over so that it comes in contact with itself.
Used this way, fold is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
How It’s Used
The word’s distinct uses, one example each.
Incorporateverb
“Fold the egg whites into the batter.”
Foldingnoun
“He gave the napkins a double fold.”
More ways to use fold
- “Fold the egg whites into the batter.”verb
- “The bed folds in a jiffy.”verb
- “He gave the napkins a double fold.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A small book usually having a paper cover.
The process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Bend or lay so that one part covers the other.
A chair that can be folded flat for storage.
Currency issued by a government or central bank and consisting of printed paper that can circulate as a substitute for specie.
A saw with a toothed blade that folds into a handle (the way a pocketknife folds).
An interior door that opens by folding back in sections (rather than by swinging on hinges).
Either of two pairs of folds of mucous membrane projecting into the larynx.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.