Fold Meaning
/ˈfəʊld/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo bend (any thin material, such as paper) over so that it comes in contact with itself.
verbTo make the proper arrangement (in a thin material) by bending.
Sentence Examples
With great effort she managed to fold one more.
Fold the napkins and put one by each plate.
Please fold the blankets and place them in the wooden chest.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Please ____ the clean laundry carefully before putting it away in the drawer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He carefully began to ____ the laundry and put it away in the wooden dresser drawers.
Word Origin & History
The verb is from Middle English folden, from Old English fealdan, from Proto-West Germanic *falþan, from Proto-Germanic *falþaną (“to fold”), from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“to fold”). Cognate with Dutch vouwen, German falten. The noun is from Middle English folde, falde, itself derived from the verb.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"He put out his arms and folded her to his breast. And for a while she lay there sobbing. He looked at us over her bowed head, with eyes that blinked damply above his quivering nostrils. His mouth was set as steel."
— 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC:
"I will not poyſon thee with my attaint, / Nor fold my fault in cleanly coin’d excuſes, / My ſable ground of ſinne I will not paint, / To hide the truth of this falſe nights abuſes."
— 1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:
"[…] There sat the Shadow fear’d of man;
Who broke our fair companionship,
And spread his mantle dark and cold;
And wrapt thee formless in the fold, […]"
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 37:
"[…] the Ancient Ægyptian Mummies, were ſhrowded in a Number of Folds of Linnen, beſmeared with Gummes, in manner of Seare-Cloth; […]"
— 1631, Francis [Bacon], “VIII. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 771, page 194:
"[…] the weake wanton Cupid Shall from your necke vnlooſe his amorous fould, […]"
— c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Please ____ the clean laundry carefully before putting it away in the drawer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He carefully began to ____ the laundry and put it away in the wooden dresser drawers.