Fold (Verb)
Meaning 1
Bend or lay so that one part covers the other; "fold up the newspaper"; "turn up your collar".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Fold the laundry and put it away in your closet.
- To create a sharp crease, fold the fabric precisely along the line.
- Before leaving the conference room, fold up the projector screen to conserve power.
- Fold the pizza in half to make it easier to eat on the go.
- She carefully folded the fragile paper to create an origami bird.
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Meaning 2
Cease to operate or cause to cease operating; "The owners decided to move and to close the factory"; "My business closes every night at 8 P.M."; "close up the shop".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The company will fold due to its massive financial losses and declining sales.
- The struggling airline was forced to fold its operations after years of failing to turn a profit.
- The school will fold its music program due to lack of funding and low participation.
- After 50 years of serving the community, the family-owned restaurant will fold its doors for the final time.
- The small business owners were heartbroken when they had to fold their boutique store due to poor sales and high overhead costs.
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Meaning 3
Confine in a fold, like sheep.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The shepherd expertly managed to fold the straying sheep into a tight cluster for the night.
- As night fell, the cowboys helped fold the herd of cattle into a safe grazing area.
- To protect them from the elements, the rancher helped fold the flock of birds into a small enclosure.
- With the aid of a few volunteers, the park ranger folded the group of wild deer into a secure holding pen.
- The livestock specialists efficiently folded the large group of goats into the smallish pens constructed just for them.
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Meaning 4
Incorporate a food ingredient into a mixture by repeatedly turning it over without stirring or beating; "Fold the egg whites into the batter".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Fold the whipped cream gently into the fruit mixture to prevent deflation.
- To incorporate the delicate herbs, fold them into the meatloaf mixture with a spatula.
- Carefully fold the beaten egg whites into the cake batter to create a light texture.
- Fold the chopped nuts into the cookie dough to distribute them evenly.
- Fold the melted butter into the mashed potatoes to give them a creamy consistency.
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
Become folded or folded up; "The bed folds in a jiffy".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The table folds up quickly to save space in the room.
- The map folds out into a large and detailed chart.
- A section of the staircase folds upwards to become a shelf.
- The handles of the chair fold back and in when not in use.
- The wall-mounted ironing board folds away into a compact compartment.