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
folded the child in her arms
5
a
: to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating
b
: to incorporate closely
All sorts of persons, places, and animals have been folded into this version of Tolstoy's vision …—
Phillip Hamburger
Phillip Hamburger6
a
: to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker)
b
: to bring to an end
folded the business
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
the newspaper folded
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
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Finely chop a few bars to fold into the cream cheese icing.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Long-standing efforts to bring greater numbers of traditionally underrepresented minority students into the PhD fold are under attack.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fold
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Verb
Sony Music bought the label in 2004, and RCA folded in 2011 alongside Arista Records.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Finely chop a few bars to fold into the cream cheese icing.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
Bisignano also got Dimon’s nod to integrate another casualty, Bear Stearns, into the JPM fold.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Long-standing efforts to bring greater numbers of traditionally underrepresented minority students into the PhD fold are under attack.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fold
Cite this Entry
“Fold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fold. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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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