Illustration of fold
- fold 4a
fold
1 of 5verb (1)
ˈfōld 
folded; folding; folds
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
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)
fold
2 of 5noun (1)
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)
fold
3 of 5noun (2)
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
fold
4 of 5verb (2)
folded; folding; folds
transitive verb
: to pen up or confine (sheep) in a fold
-fold
5 of 5suffix
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times —in adjectives
a sixfold increase
and adverbs repay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
threefold aspect of the problem
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- body
- bunch
- circle
- clan
- clique
- community
- coterie
- coven
- crowd
- galère
- gang
- klatch
- klatsch
- lot
- network
- pack
- ring
- set
Verb (2)
- double
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Suffix It will repay you tenfold.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English fealdan; akin to Old High German faldan to fold, Greek diplasios twofold
Noun (2) and Verb (2)
Middle English, from Old English falod; akin to Old Saxon faled enclosure
Suffix
Middle English, from Old English -feald; akin to Old High German -falt -fold, Latin -plex, -plus, Old English fealdan
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing fold
Kids Definition
fold 1 of 4
noun
ˈfōld
: an enclosure for sheep
fold
2 of 4verb
folded; folding
1
: to lay one part over or against another part
fold a blanket
2
: to clasp together
fold your hands
3
: embrace entry 1 sense 1
She folded the child in her arms.
fold
3 of 4noun
1
: an act or the result of laying one part over or against another
With just a few folds he made a paper airplane.
2
: a part laid over another part
the folds of the curtain
3
: a bend produced in a rock layer by pressure
-fold
4 of 4suffix
ˌfōld
1
: multiplied by a specified number : times
Hint: -fold is used in adjectives a twelvefold increase and adverbs repay tenfold
2
: having so many parts
a threefold problem
Medical Definition
fold 1 of 2
intransitive verb
ˈfōld
: to become doubled or pleated
fold
2 of 2noun
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane)
folded
verb
1
as in doubled
to lay one part over or against another part of fold the blanket so that it will fit inside the trunk Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- doubled
- overlapped
- closed
- shut
- collapsed
- pleated
- telescoped
- overlaid
- overlay
- plaited
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- opened
- extended
- unfolded
- unrolled
- spread
2
as in flopped
to be unsuccessful the business folded after just two months Synonyms & Similar Words
- flopped
- collapsed
- failed
- struggled
- missed
- bombed
- struck out
- tanked
- cratered
- washed out
- flunked
- fell short
- flamed out
- slipped
- foundered
- fell flat
- crumbled
- slumped
- came up empty
- laid an egg
- floundered
- fell on one's face
- died on the vine
- declined
- came to grief
- crashed
- skidded
- came a cropper
- imploded
- sunk
- waned
- sank
- misfired
- went under
- miscarried
- self-destructed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delivered
- went
- succeeded
- clicked
- cooked
- worked out
- flourished
- went over
- prospered
- thrived
- won
- panned out
- came off
- triumphed
- prevailed
- throve