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

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

4

: to give shape to

the wind molds the waves

5

: to fit the contours of

fitted skirts that mold the hips

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

Verb (2)

• break down
• corrupt
• decay
• decompose
• disintegrate
• fester
• foul
• molder
• perish [chiefly British]
• putrefy
• rot
• spoil

Noun (3)

• clod
• dirt
• earth
• ground
• soil

Examples of mold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The wrinkled type can tend to mold if they are grown in the colder, wetter conditions of the latter part of the year and do best when sown in spring. —Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 24 Sep. 2023

Your empire is further molded by choices you’re offered throughout your playthrough. —WIRED, 20 Sep. 2023

Bread While the refrigerator has been said to help keep bread from molding, the humidity of the fridge draws out the moisture from the bread, leaving you with bland, dry slices. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023

But the duo never got off the ground in their first season together, at times looking at odds as each attempted to mold the offense to her own style. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023

Some brands are designed to mold to the shape of your foot over time, such as Birkenstocks. —Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023

Brothers like the Fantastic 5, Master Rob, the original Clark Kent, King Tim II, them type of brothers helped mold the Bronx. —Spin Staff, Spin, 29 Aug. 2023

Better still, the brush is uniquely designed to mold to the shape of your hand and scalp. —Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 28 Aug. 2023

The law has consistently asserted that stumbling upon something beautiful—like the pattern on a chunk of granite in a quarry, or on driftwood molded by the tides on a beach—isn’t the same as creating it from scratch. —Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023

Noun

This will also give Baylor a chance to see if the new names on its offensive line fit the mold that their coach, Eric Mateos, and Grimes have designed. —Michael Haag, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023

And certainly Trump, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy fit this mold. —Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2023

They’re often crafted out of soft, flexible materials like silicone that mold to the shape of the breasts, and smooths out the front. —India Roby, Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023

At 26 years old, ancient by traditional gymnastics standards, Biles just keeps on breaking those old molds. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2023

Businesses purchased figures from a California company, International Fiberglass, which had acquired a mold for a Paul Bunyan character. —Conor Knighton, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2023

Henley, a rookie third-round pick, fits the mold of a fast, physical and athletic player who can excel covering and protecting on punts. —Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2023

Keep in mind that jams and jellies can grow mold after three or four days. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. 2023

And fortunately for Auburn, Thorne, who has been named the Tigers' starter, fits that same mold. —Ainslie Lee | [e-mail], al, 23 Aug. 2023

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

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

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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