Definition of fold - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
actionbend something flexible over on itself
- She will fold the paper in half..
2.
clothesarrange material by bending
- He folded the clothes neatly on the shelf.
3.
cookingTECH. stir ingredients gently by turning overTECH.
- Fold the egg whites into the batter.
4.
businessintr. collapse or failintr.
- The company folded after just two years.
5.
pokerintr. withdraw from a game or activityintr.
- He decided to fold and not place a bet.
Noun
1.
fabricbend or crease in material
- She smoothed out the fold in her dress.
2.
communitygroup sharing beliefs or goals
- He returned to the fold after years away.
3.
animalenclosure for sheep or animals
- The farmer led the sheep into the fold.
4.
geologyTECH. geological bend in rock layersTECH.
- The mountain range was formed by a fold.
Images of fold

bend or crease in material 
enclosure for sheep or animals 
geological bend in rock layers
Expressions with fold
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
double something by folding
Fold over the dough to create layers.
bend or lay so one part covers another
Fold up the map before putting it away.
incorporate something into a larger whole
We need to fold in these new features into the existing system.
incorporate or include as part of something
The new policy will fold into the existing framework.
suddenly give up or collapse under pressure or opposition
Under tough questioning, the witness folded like a lawn chair.
returning to a group or community after leaving
After years abroad, he came back to the fold.
laundry service where clothes are washed and folded
I dropped off my clothes at the fluff and fold.
give up easily when faced with difficulty
He folded like a tent when challenged by the opponent.
stop playing in a card game round
He decided to fold his cards and wait for the next round.
stop playing a hand in a card game
He decided to fold his hand after the flop.
bend or collapse underneath
The table's legs fold under when you lift it.
recognize the right time to quit
In poker, you must know when to fold to avoid losing more money.
resume a previous role or activity
She returned to the fold after a brief retirement.
give up easily under pressure or difficulty
He tends to fold like a cheap suit when things get tough.
become part of a community
He was welcomed when he decided to enter the fold of the local church.
collapse easily under pressure or stress
The team folded like a deckchair under the pressure.
put away by folding for storage
She folded away the ironing board after use.
bend something so it has two layers
She folded the paper double to make it thicker.
bend something to make it smaller or flat
Fold down the table to save space.
collapse into a flat position
The chairs fold flat for easy storage.
cross arms over the chest
She folded her arms and waited patiently.
bring hands together palm to palm
She folded her hands in prayer.
increased or multiplied by thirty times
The output saw a thirty-fold rise this year.
fold pattern with alternating directions
The brochure was designed with a zig-zag fold.
Origin of fold
Old English, fealdan (to fold)
Terms with fold included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
body language
fold arms across the chest as a gesture or signal
textiles
small crease or fold in fabric or paper
medical
fold of fat creating an extra chin
sewing
fold and sew a fabric edge to stop fraying
clothing
fold sleeves to keep them out of the way
literal action
fold sleeves upward to keep them clean
actions
fold or flip something downward
biology
small line or fold in skin from aging
medical
upper fold of skin covering the eye
face wrinkle
skin fold from nose to mouth corners
actions
fold or push something into a small space
sewing
fold in fabric
pleat
fold fabric into narrow pleats
folding
fold over to make two folds
crafts
fold something back or down
sewing
small fold or puckering made by gathering fabric
clothes
fold or bend over something
medical
monolid without a visible fold
sewing
make a stitched fold in fabric
sewing
fold in fabric stitched in place
throat anatomy
fold in the larynx that helps make sounds
texture
small fold or wrinkle on a surface
textiles
irregular fold in fabric or material
clothing
high, close-fitting collar that does not fold over
Examples of fold in a sentence
Please fold the blanket and put it away. She learned to fold the napkins elegantly. Please fold the laundry before dinner. Fold the chocolate chips into the dough. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the mixture. The startup folded due to financial issues.
After the scandal, the organization folded quickly. She chose to fold rather than risk more money. After a bad hand, he had no choice but to fold. The tailor noticed a fold in the fabric that needed ironing. A fold in the curtain let the sunlight in. She felt welcomed back into the fold. The organization invited him into the fold. The fold was secure against the evening chill. Lambs played safely within the fold. The fold created a natural arch. Geologists studied the ancient fold.
View all translations of fold
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:plier, pli, ...
- German:falten, Falte, ...
- Italian:piegare, piega, ...
- Spanish:plegar, pliegue, ...
- Portuguese:dobrar, dobra, ...
- Chinese:折叠, 折痕, ...
- Japanese:折る, 折り目, ...
- Arabic:طَوَى, طَيَّة, ...
- Hebrew:לְקַפֵּל, קֶמֶט, ...
- Russian:сгибать, складка, ...
- Ukrainian:складати, складка, ...
- Hindi:तह करना, सिलवट, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the