fold: Meaning and Definition of

fold

Pronunciation: (fōld), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to bend (cloth, paper, etc.) over upon itself.
  2. to bring into a compact form by bending and laying parts together (often fol. by up): to fold up a map; to fold one's legs under oneself.
  3. to bring (the arms, hands, etc.) together in an intertwined or crossed manner; clasp; cross: He folded his arms on his chest.
  4. to bend or wind (usually fol. by about, round, etc.): to fold one's arms about a person's neck.
  5. to bring (the wings) close to the body, as a bird on alighting.
  6. to enclose; wrap; envelop: to fold something in paper.
  7. to embrace or clasp; enfold: to fold someone in one's arms.
  8. to place (one's cards) facedown so as to withdraw from the play.
  9. to bring to an end; close up: The owner decided to fold the business and retire.
—v.i.
  1. to be folded or be capable of folding: The doors fold back.
  2. to place one's cards facedown so as to withdraw from the play.
  3. to fail in business; be forced to close: The newspaper folded after 76 years.
  4. to yield or give in: Dad folded and said we could go after all.
  5. to mix in or add (an ingredient) by gently turning one part over another: Fold in the egg whites.
  6. He folded up when the prosecutor discredited his story.
    1. to break down; collapse:He folded up when the prosecutor discredited his story.
    2. to fail, esp. to go out of business.
—n.
  1. a part that is folded; pleat; layer: folds of cloth.
  2. a crease made by folding: He cut the paper along the fold.
  3. a hollow made by folding: to carry something in the fold of one's dress.
  4. a hollow place in undulating ground: a fold of the mountains.
  5. a portion of strata that is folded or bent, as an anticline or syncline, or that connects two horizontal or parallel portions of strata of different levels (as a monocline).
    1. the line formed along the horizontal center of a standard-sized newspaper when it is folded after printing.
    2. a rough-and-ready dividing line, esp. on the front page and other principal pages, between stories of primary and lesser importance.
  6. a coil of a serpent, string, etc.
  7. the act of folding or doubling over.
  8. a margin or ridge formed by the folding of a membrane or other flat body part; plica.

fold

Pronunciation: (fōld), [key]
— n.
  1. an enclosure for sheep or, occasionally, other domestic animals.
  2. the sheep kept within it.
  3. a flock of sheep.
  4. a church.
  5. the members of a church; congregation: He preached to the fold.
  6. a group sharing common beliefs, values, etc.: He rejoined the fold after his youthful escapade.
—v.t.
  1. to confine (sheep or other domestic animals) in a fold.

-fold

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. a native English suffix meaning “of so many parts,” or denoting multiplication by the number indicated by the stem or word to which the suffix is attached: twofold; manifold.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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