Illustration of fold
- fold 4a
folded; folding; folds
1
: to lay one part over another part of
fold a letter
2
: to reduce the length or bulk of by doubling over
fold a tent
3
: to clasp together : entwine
fold the hands
4
: to clasp or enwrap closely : embrace
5
a
: to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating
b
: to incorporate closely
6
a
: to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker)
b
: to bring to an end
7
: to bend (something, such as a layer of rock) into folds
1
: to become doubled or pleated
2
: to fail completely : collapse
especially
: to go out of business
3
: to fold one's cards (as in poker)
1
: a part doubled or laid over another part : pleat
2
: a crease made by folding something (such as a newspaper)
3
: something that is folded together or that enfolds
4
a
: a bend or flexure produced in rock by forces operative after the depositing or consolidation of the rock
b
chiefly British
: an undulation in the landscape
5
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (such as a membrane)
1
a
: a group of people or institutions that share a common faith, belief, activity, or enthusiasm
His former colleagues would be glad to welcome him back into the fold.
b
: a flock of sheep
2
: an enclosure for sheep
folded; folding; folds
: to pen up or confine (sheep) in a fold
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a sixfold increase
and adverbsrepay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
threefold aspect of the problem
Examples of fold in a Sentence
Noun (1)
ready to welcome their old Liberal friend back into the fold
Verb (2)
fold the blanket so that it will fit inside the trunk
the business folded after just two months
Suffix
It will repay you tenfold.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sandi Schwartz, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2025
Waiting in line in a folding chair at the Alondra Church of Christ, Ramirez said her family was visiting from San Jose, but had left her house to buy gardening tools when they were detained by ICE.
—Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Garrett Hongo, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
In this model, a key player—the research professional—reaches out to other departments to bring them into the AI fold.
—Erin Tavgac, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fold
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Verb
This crank operates smoothly with no catching, and the umbrella opens and closes with no manual adjustments needed for the canopy to fold in or out.
—Sandi Schwartz, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2025
Waiting in line in a folding chair at the Alondra Church of Christ, Ramirez said her family was visiting from San Jose, but had left her house to buy gardening tools when they were detained by ICE.
—Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Noun
The green folds of cliffs chanted our imagined names, caught winds heaving
an ocean of clouds that piled like seawrack
muffling the mill’s whistle, windrows of rain
gathered upon the mountain’s emerald stacks,
the black crown of the day’s celebration.
—Garrett Hongo, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
In this model, a key player—the research professional—reaches out to other departments to bring them into the AI fold.
—Erin Tavgac, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fold
Cite this Entry
“Fold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fold. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fold
1 of 5 noun1
: a pen for sheep
2
: a group of people with a common faith or interest
fold
2 of 5 verb
: to shut up in a fold
fold
3 of 5 verb1
: to lay one part over or against another part
fold a letter
birds folding their wings
2
: to clasp together
fold the hands
4
: to bend (as a layer of rock) into folds
5
: to add (a food ingredient) to a mixture by gently and repeatedly lifting one part over another
6
: to become doubled or pleated
7
: to fail completely
the business folded
fold
4 of 5 noun1
: a doubling or folding over
2
: a part doubled or laid over another part
3
: a bend produced in rock
-fold
5 of 5 suffixˌfōld,
ˈfōld
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a twelvefold increase
and adverbsrepay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
a threefold problem
Etymology
Noun
Old English falod "pen for sheep"
Verb
Old English fealdan "to fold, make double thickness"
Suffix
Old English -feald (suffix) "being increased (so many) times"
Medical Definition
fold
1 of 2 intransitive verb
: to become doubled or pleated
fold
2 of 2 noun
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane)
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