fold

noun

UK /fəʊld/

Word Forms

singular	fold
plural	folds

1
countable a bend or line on a piece of paper or cloth that you make when you press one part of it over another
Make a second fold 5 centimetres above the first.
Open the paper flat and cut along the fold.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
fold
fold up
unfurl
2
countable usually plurala curved piece of cloth that hangs in a loose way
the soft folds of the curtain
Her elegant legs were hidden in the folds of her skirt.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to cloth and fabric
cloth
material
fabric
1. 2a
  countable an area of skin that hangs in a loose way on someone’s body
  folds of fat flesh
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin and its parts
  beauty spot
  birthmark
  cuticle
3
countable a small area enclosed by a fence or wall in a field, used for keeping sheep
Synonyms and related words
Outdoor areas where animals are kept
barnyard
boma
chicken run
4
countable Britishliteraryan area of low land between hills
The village is hidden in a deep fold of the hills.
Synonyms and related words
Parts and features of mountains, hills and cliffs
brae
brink
the brow
5

the fold
a group of people who share the same ideas or aims or who live or work together
in the fold:
He is now firmly back in the conservative fold.
return/come back to the fold:
Emily longed to return to the family fold.
bring someone back to the fold:
We are hoping that these policies will bring reluctant voters back to the fold.
leave/stray from the fold:
Many Western Marxists left the Communist fold in the 1970s.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people with shared interests or aims
association
commission
organization

fold

noun

US /foʊld/

Word Forms

singular	fold
plural	folds

1
countable a bend or line on a piece of paper or cloth that you make when you press one part of it over another
Make a second fold 5 inches above the first.
Open the paper flat and cut along the fold.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
close
fold up
fold
2
countable usually plurala curved piece of cloth that hangs in a loose way
the soft folds of the curtain
Her elegant legs were hidden in the folds of her skirt.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to cloth and fabric
cloth
material
fabric
1. 2a
  countable an area of skin that hangs in a loose way on someone’s body
  folds of fat flesh
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin and its parts
  beauty mark
  beauty spot
  birthmark
3

the fold
a group of people who share the same ideas or goals or who live or work together
in the fold:
He is now firmly back in the conservative fold.
return/come back to the fold:
Emily longed to return to the family fold.
bring someone back to the fold:
We are hoping that these policies will bring reluctant voters back to the fold.
leave/stray from the fold:
Many Western Marxists left the Communist fold in the 1970s.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people with shared interests or aims
association
commission
organization
4
countable a small area enclosed by a fence or wall in a field, used for keeping sheep
Synonyms and related words
Outdoor areas where animals are kept
barnyard
boma
chicken run

fold

verb

UK /fəʊld/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fold
he/she/it	folds
present participle	folding
past tense	folded
past participle	folded

1
transitive to bend a piece of paper or cloth and press one part of it over another part
Carrie folded the letter and slid it into a drawer.
fold something in half/two:
Fold the paper in half diagonally.
fold something neatly/carefully:
She folded the towel neatly and hung it over the rail.
fold something over/back/down:
Fold the left flap over and hold it down.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
fold
fold up
unfurl
1. 1a
  to cover something by bending a piece of paper or cloth around it
  fold something in something:
  She picked up the insect and gently folded it in a handkerchief.
  fold something around something:
  He folded the newspaper carefully around the plants.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2
intransitive/transitive if something folds, or if you can fold it, you can bend part of it so that it becomes smaller and easier to carry or store
Jim folded the penknife and slipped it into his pocket.
fold (something) up/down/away:
The bed folds away conveniently for storage.
fold (something) flat:
The table folds flat for easy storage.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
fold
fold up
unfurl
3

fold
or
fold up
intransitive if a business folds, it closes because it is not able to make enough money
Synonyms and related words
Closing a business and ceasing to operate a business
close
shut down
wind up
4
intransitive if your legs fold, they suddenly become weak and unable to support your weight, so that you fall to the ground
Sue felt her legs folding under her, then she fainted.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
fall over
5
fold like a (cheap) lawn chair
American
to give up
Her accomplice folded like a lawn chair hours ago.
The committee folded like a cheap lawn chair.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 11/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

fold your arms/hands

fold someone in your arms

phrasal verbs

fold in

fold up

fold

verb

US /foʊld/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fold
he/she/it	folds
present participle	folding
past tense	folded
past participle	folded

1
transitive to bend a piece of paper or cloth and press one part of it over another part
Carrie folded the note and slid it into her purse.
fold something in half/two:
Fold the paper in half diagonally.
fold something neatly/carefully:
She folded the towel neatly and hung it over the rail.
fold something over/back/down:
Fold the left flap over and hold it down.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
close
fold up
fold
1. 1a
  to cover something by bending a piece of paper or cloth around it
  fold something in something:
  She picked up the insect and gently folded it in a handkerchief.
  fold something around something:
  He folded the blanket carefully around the baby.
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something
  cover
  wrap
  coat
2
intransitive/transitive if something folds, or if you can fold it, you can bend part of it so that it becomes smaller and easier to carry or store
Jim folded the pocket knife and put it into his front pocket.
fold (something) up/down/away:
The bed folds away conveniently for storage.
fold (something) flat:
The table folds flat for easy storage.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
close
fold up
fold
3

fold
or
fold up
intransitive if a business folds, it closes because it is not able to make enough money
Synonyms and related words
Closing a business and ceasing to operate a business
close
shut down
wind up
4
intransitive if your legs fold, they suddenly become weak and unable to support your weight, so that you fall to the ground
Sue felt her legs folding under her, then she fainted.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
subside
5
fold like a (cheap) lawn chair
American
to give up
Her accomplice folded like a lawn chair hours ago.
The committee folded like a cheap lawn chair.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 11/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

fold your arms/hands

fold someone in your arms

phrasal verbs

fold in

fold up

fold ​‌

the fold

fold ​‌

the fold

fold ​‌‌

fold

fold up

fold like a (cheap) lawn chair

fold ​‌‌

fold

fold up

fold like a (cheap) lawn chair

fold

fold

fold

fold