mold

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈmōld 

plural molds

1

a

: a cavity in which a substance is shaped: such as

(1)

: a matrix for casting metal

a bullet mold

(2)

: a form in which food is given a decorative shape

b

: a molded object

2

a

: prototype

b

: a fixed pattern : design

c

obsolete : an example to be followed

3

: distinctive nature or character : type

a movie in the classic/traditional/familiar mold of a Hollywood thriller

She does not fit the mold of a typical college professor. [= she is not a typical college professor]

He is (cast) in the same mold as other troubled heroes. [=he resembles other troubled heroes]

4

: the frame on or around which an object is constructed

5

: molding

mold

2 of 5

verb (1)

molded; molding; molds

transitive verb

1

: to knead or work (a material, such as dough or clay) into a desired consistency or shape

2

: to form in a mold

mold candles

3

: to determine or influence the quality or nature of

mold public opinion

teachers molding young minds

4

: to give shape to

the wind molds the waves

5

: to fit the contours of

a mattress pad that will mold to your body

6

: to ornament with molding or carving

molded picture frames

moldable

ˈmōl-də-bəl 

adjective

mold

3 of 5

noun (2)

plural molds

1

: a superficial often woolly growth produced especially on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms by a fungus (as of the order Mucorales)

2

: a fungus that produces mold

mold

4 of 5

verb (2)

molded; molding; molds

intransitive verb

: to become moldy

mold

5 of 5

noun (3)

plural molds

1

: crumbling soft friable earth suited to plant growth : soil

especially : soil rich in humus compare leaf mold

2

dialectal British

a

: the surface of the earth : ground

b

: the earth of the burying ground

3

archaic : earth that is the substance of the human body

Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mold.

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms of mold

Verb (2)

• decompose
• rot
• disintegrate
• decay

Noun (3)

• soil
• dirt
• ground
• sand

Examples of mold in a Sentence

Verb (2)

plants molding in the abandoned garden

Noun (3)

mold so rich that just about anything will grow in it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

An inspector found a jar of olives stored with mold, county documents show. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025

Elsewhere, bones were stored in plastic and paper bags and totes and boxes, often covered with black mold and silverfish, according to the book. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025

Verb

Lin—whose early career at Zappos and mathematical inclinations molded him into an early backer of companies like Airbnb and DoorDash—has been at Sequoia since 2010. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

The writers mold a peculiar premise in their screenplay by avoiding another dime-a-dozen found footage spectacle, instead turning a very careful eye toward the real-life atrocities committed by the church — plus some genuine scares. —Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French molde, alteration of Old French modle, from Latin modulus, diminutive of modus measure — more at mete

Noun (2)

Middle English mowlde, perhaps alteration of mowle, from moulen to grow moldy, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Danish mul mold

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Old English molde; akin to Old High German molta soil, Latin molere to grind — more at meal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mold

• blue mold
• bread mold
• break the mold
• (cast) in the same mold
• (cast) in the same mold as
• fit (into/in) the mold of
• fit the mold
• green mold
• leaf mold
• pre-mold
• slime mold
• sooty mold
• They broke the mold
• water mold

Rhymes for mold

• bold
• bowled
• cold
• doled
• foaled
• fold
• gold
• hold
• holed
• mould
• old
• poled

Kids Definition

mold

1 of 5 noun

ˈmōld 

: light rich crumbly earth that contains decaying matter (as leaves)

mold

2 of 5 noun

1

: the frame on, around, or in which something is constructed or shaped

a candle mold

2

: something shaped in a mold

a mold of gelatin

mold

3 of 5 verb

1

: to work and press into shape

mold loaves of bread

2

: to form in a mold

3

: to determine or influence the character of

mold a child's mind

moldable

ˈmōl-də-bəl 

adjective

molder noun

mold

4 of 5 verb

: to become moldy

mold

5 of 5 noun

1

: an often fuzzy surface growth of fungus especially on damp or decaying matter

2

: a fungus that produces mold

Etymology

Noun

Old English molde "rich soil"

Noun

Middle English mold "special nature of something, frame on which something is formed," from early French molde (same meaning), from Latin modulus "form, measure"

Verb

Middle English moulen "to become moldy"

Medical Definition

mold

1 of 4 noun

variants or chiefly British mould

ˈmōld 

: a cavity in which a fluid or malleable substance is shaped

mold

2 of 4 transitive verb

variants or chiefly British mould

: to give shape to especially in a mold

mold

3 of 4 intransitive verb

variants or chiefly British mould

: to become moldy

mold

4 of 4 noun

variants or chiefly British mould

1

: a superficial often woolly growth produced by a fungus especially on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms

2

: a fungus (as of the order Mucorales) that produces mold

Geographical Definition

Mold

geographical name

ˈmōld 

town in northeastern Wales south-southwest of Liverpool, England population 10,000