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plural molds
molded; molding; molds
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
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
plural molds
1
2
3
archaic
: earth that is the substance of the human body
Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mold.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebLindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2023
Without judgment, employees can surface genuinely novel ideas and help team members take impractical suggestions and mold them into refined, business-impacting processes.
—Tammy Polk, Quartz, 31 Jan. 2023
In 2023 smart politicians, marketers and charities head to the youngest possible social groups to drive and mold them for the next ten years.
—Michael Gale, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022
This melding of past and present ranks high among his innovations, exposing collective rot and shame while sieving out private pains that often mold us into better people.
—Hamilton Cain, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Oct. 2022
They’re made of a durable heat- and slip-resistant silicone that’s also flexible and can mold to your hands.
—Kylee Mcguigan, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022
The program has been attracting some of the best talent in the Valley and coach Jason Mohns knows how to mold them into winners.
—Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2022
But Davis valued Madden’s ability to manage his players’ diverse personalities and mold them into a cohesive — and winning — team.
—New York Times, 28 Dec. 2021
Ultimate Ears has solved this problem with a clever pair of wireless earbuds that mold their tips to your ear canals.
—Gear Team, Wired, 22 Nov. 2021
Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023
Other metrics in the study included air quality indexes, water quality, homes with mold, mice or rats, and the number of junk yards in the city.
—Kennedy Sessions, Chron, 25 Feb. 2023
Storing collections in places without proper climate control and inadequate air circulation often leads to the development of mold, fungus and other problems that have to be mitigated.
—Dr. Richard Kurin, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023
After the 2019 discovery of toxic black mold, the campuses of Weaverville Elementary and Trinity High had to be gutted and rebuilt.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Bonita Barrett, a retired grocery worker, contended for years with a slew of maintenance problems in her unit at Dutch Village, including leaks, mold, and a lack of heat.
—Sophie Kasakove, ProPublica, 21 Feb. 2023
It must be regularly pruned and de-leafed, as well as inspected for mold, mildew and insects.
—Elizabeth G. Dunn, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2023
The nifty device sucks the air out of a plastic bag to create optional storage conditions to keep pantry staples, fresh produce, and frozen meat from being exposed to freezer burn, mold, and bacteria.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2023
Noise from the bar below, as well as possible mold, dust and drafty windows, are just some of the triggers for her complaints.
—Susan Coll, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2023
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Verb
Quality earpieces should be made with soft and pliable rubber tubing that can mold to your ear canal.
—Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2023
Without judgment, employees can surface genuinely novel ideas and help team members take impractical suggestions and mold them into refined, business-impacting processes.
—Tammy Polk, Quartz, 31 Jan. 2023
In 2023 smart politicians, marketers and charities head to the youngest possible social groups to drive and mold them for the next ten years.
—Michael Gale, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022
This melding of past and present ranks high among his innovations, exposing collective rot and shame while sieving out private pains that often mold us into better people.
—Hamilton Cain, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Oct. 2022
They’re made of a durable heat- and slip-resistant silicone that’s also flexible and can mold to your hands.
—Kylee Mcguigan, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022
The program has been attracting some of the best talent in the Valley and coach Jason Mohns knows how to mold them into winners.
—Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2022
But Davis valued Madden’s ability to manage his players’ diverse personalities and mold them into a cohesive — and winning — team.
—New York Times, 28 Dec. 2021
Ultimate Ears has solved this problem with a clever pair of wireless earbuds that mold their tips to your ear canals.
—Gear Team, Wired, 22 Nov. 2021
Noun
These helmets combine a hard ABS layer and an in-mold layer.
—Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023
Other metrics in the study included air quality indexes, water quality, homes with mold, mice or rats, and the number of junk yards in the city.
—Kennedy Sessions, Chron, 25 Feb. 2023
Storing collections in places without proper climate control and inadequate air circulation often leads to the development of mold, fungus and other problems that have to be mitigated.
—Dr. Richard Kurin, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023
After the 2019 discovery of toxic black mold, the campuses of Weaverville Elementary and Trinity High had to be gutted and rebuilt.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Bonita Barrett, a retired grocery worker, contended for years with a slew of maintenance problems in her unit at Dutch Village, including leaks, mold, and a lack of heat.
—Sophie Kasakove, ProPublica, 21 Feb. 2023
It must be regularly pruned and de-leafed, as well as inspected for mold, mildew and insects.
—Elizabeth G. Dunn, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2023
The nifty device sucks the air out of a plastic bag to create optional storage conditions to keep pantry staples, fresh produce, and frozen meat from being exposed to freezer burn, mold, and bacteria.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2023
Noise from the bar below, as well as possible mold, dust and drafty windows, are just some of the triggers for her complaints.
—Susan Coll, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of mold was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing mold
Articles Related to mold
Dictionary Entries Near mold
Cite this Entry
“Mold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mold. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
mold
1 of 5 noun
: light rich crumbly earth that contains decaying matter (as leaves)
mold
2 of 5 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
molder
noun
mold
4 of 5 verb
: to become moldy
mold
5 of 5 noun1
: 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
: 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
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
town in northeastern Wales south-southwest of Liverpool, England population 10,000
More from Merriam-Webster on mold
Nglish: Translation of mold for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mold for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mold
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