fold
/fəʊld/ (bre, ipa) · /fəʊld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfōld/ (ame, mw) · /foʊld/ (ame, ipa) · /-fəʊld/ (bre, ipa) · /-foʊld/ (ame, ipa)
fold — verb
- foldpresent simple I / you / we / they
- foldshe / she / it
- foldedpast simple
- folding-ing form
1. to press a piece of paper, fabric, or other bendable material over onto itself,
to press a piece of paper, fabric, or other bendable material over onto itself, creating a crease and reducing its size
Hyun folded the letter carefully and placed it in an envelope.
fold + noun phrase (letter, paper)
This map folds neatly into a small rectangle for storage.
intransitive: folds + adverb (neatly)
Nkechi folded the clean towels and put them in the cupboard.
The piece of paper would not fold along the dotted line.
文法句型
fold + noun phrase (paper, cloth, letter)
fold + adverb/preposition (up, down, in half)
用法筆記
Also used intransitively to describe how well or easily something bends: 'This chair folds flat for storage.' The intransitive form often pairs with an adverb showing the result.
常見錯誤
2. to wrap something soft around a person or object, usually to give protection, wa
to wrap something soft around a person or object, usually to give protection, warmth, or comfort
Élise folded a blanket around the sleeping baby.
fold + noun + around + noun
Karim folded the scarf gently around his neck before heading out.
The nurse folded a cool cloth around the patient's swollen ankle.
Mira folded her hands around the warm cup of tea.
文法句型
fold + noun + around/round + noun
3. to cross both arms over the front of your upper body and keep them there, often
to cross both arms over the front of your upper body and keep them there, often as a sign of impatience, deep thought, or feeling chilly
Sirin folded her arms and waited for the bus.
fold + possessive + arms
The teacher folded his arms as he listened to the students explain their ideas.
fold + arms (listening posture)
Aarav folded his arms across his chest and frowned at the news.
Faisal folded his arms and leaned against the wall, waiting quietly.
- cross
used for both arms and legs: 'cross your arms' means the same as 'fold your arms'
- uncross
to separate arms or legs that were crossed
文法句型
fold + possessive + arms
fold + arms + across + chest
用法筆記
The object is almost always 'arms' in this sense — you do not 'fold legs' in the same way. This posture often signals impatience, concentration, or defensiveness.
常見錯誤
4. to draw a limb or other body part inward so that it rests near or touches the ma
to draw a limb or other body part inward so that it rests near or touches the main body
The cat folded its paws underneath its body and closed its eyes.
fold + body part + underneath
Lucía folded her legs under her as she sat on the sofa reading.
The baby folded her tiny knees up toward her chest.
The bird folded its wings against its body after landing.
- straighten
to extend a folded body part outward
- stretch
to extend fully
文法句型
fold + body part + preposition (under, against, toward)
用法筆記
Commonly used with body parts that can bend or tuck — legs, knees, paws, wings, ears. This sense is distinct from 'fold your arms' (sense 3), which refers only to the arms- across-chest posture.
常見錯誤
5. of a company, shop, or restaurant — to close permanently because it cannot make
of a company, shop, or restaurant — to close permanently because it cannot make enough money to continue
The small bakery folded after only six months of operation.
fold (of a small business)
Many local shops have folded since the big supermarket opened nearby.
The restaurant was forced to fold due to rising rent and staff costs.
The owner decided to fold the business and retire to the countryside.
- close down
phrasal verb, slightly more formal and neutral in tone
- go under
informal, strongly suggests financial failure
- go bust
informal, mainly British
文法句型
fold (of a business)
fold + noun (business, company, shop)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a small or independent business, shop, or restaurant. For large companies, 'collapse' or 'go bankrupt' are more common. The transitive use ('fold the business') is less frequent than the intransitive ('the business folded').
常見錯誤
6. to stop trying to do something or stop arguing because you no longer believe you
to stop trying to do something or stop arguing because you no longer believe you can succeed
After three hours of trying, Daniel finally folded and asked for help.
informal: fold (give up trying)
The team refused to fold even when they were losing by twenty points.
Christopher folded under the pressure of the final exam and left the room.
Rachel folded during the negotiation and accepted the lower offer.
- give up
more general and neutral; can apply to any task or goal
- back down
specifically in arguments or conflicts; implies retreating from a position
- capitulate
formal; usually in negotiations or military contexts
文法句型
fold (under pressure/stress)
用法筆記
Informal. Often used in contexts of negotiation, argument, competition, or high-pressure situations. 'Fold under pressure' is a common fixed expression. This sense is related to the card-game meaning (to fold in poker) and came into general use.
常見錯誤
7. in a card game, to stop betting on the current round and accept defeat, which pl
in a card game, to stop betting on the current round and accept defeat, which players usually signal by laying their cards on the table face down.
After the third round of betting, Pim folded his hand.
fold + possessive hand
Camila knew she could not beat a full house, so she folded.
The player to Christopher's left folded before the final card was dealt.
When your starting cards are weak, folding early is wiser than chasing a lucky draw.
Bilal folded his cards and pushed them toward the dealer.
文法句型
fold (intransitive)
fold + noun phrase (one's hand / one's cards)
用法筆記
Frequently used in poker and other betting card games. When a player folds, they lose any money or chips they have already bet in that round. The opposite action is to 'raise' or 'call'.
常見錯誤
8. to give up on winning an argument, a competition, or a difficult situation becau
to give up on winning an argument, a competition, or a difficult situation because you believe the other side is too strong or there is no hope of success.
After three failed summit attempts, the climbing team folded and went back to camp.
Lotte refused to fold under the pressure of her final examinations.
collocation: fold under [pressure]
The small business folded under the legal threats from its much larger rival.
Hugo argued for nearly an hour but eventually folded when his friend produced clear evidence.
When the judge ruled against them, the defence team folded rather than pursuing an appeal.
- give up
more general and common in everyday speech; lacks the competitive-yielding nuance
- capitulate
more formal, often used in military or political contexts
- surrender
stronger, implies total loss rather than strategic withdrawal
文法句型
fold (intransitive)
fold under + noun (pressure / threats / stress)
用法筆記
Often used with 'under' to indicate the force or pressure that causes the person to give up. Distinguish from sense 6, which refers to the general act of ceasing an activity — this sense specifically describes yielding to a stronger opponent or force in a competitive or adversarial context.
常見錯誤
9. to mix a light or delicate ingredient into a thicker food mixture by gently lift
to mix a light or delicate ingredient into a thicker food mixture by gently lifting and turning it over with a spatula, rather than stirring or beating, so that the mixture stays light and full of air.
Aoi folded the beaten egg whites into the cake batter.
fold + ingredient + into + mixture
Using a rubber spatula, Ritu folded the cream gently into the chocolate sauce.
The recipe says to fold in the blueberries at the very last step.
Stirring the egg whites instead of folding them will make the cake flat and heavy.
Folake folded the chopped herbs into the softened butter to make savoury rolls.
- blend
more general; does not specify the gentle air-preserving technique
- incorporate
formal and technical; used in professional recipe writing
文法句型
fold + noun (light ingredient) + into + noun (base mixture)
fold in + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'in' or 'into' to introduce the light ingredient being added to the base mixture. The key difference from 'stir' or 'beat' is the gentle, circular-overlapping motion that preserves air pockets, which is essential for soufflés, meringues, and sponge cakes.
常見錯誤
10. to gather sheep and keep them inside a small, fenced area, especially for shelte
to gather sheep and keep them inside a small, fenced area, especially for shelter or protection during the night.
Before nightfall, the farmer folded the sheep into the stone enclosure.
fold + sheep + into + enclosure
The shepherd folded the lambs safely away from the wolves before dark.
Élise helped her uncle fold the flock before the storm arrived.
The sheep were folded in the lower field each night during the lambing season.
文法句型
fold + noun (sheep / flock / lambs)
fold + noun + in/into + noun (enclosure)
be folded (passive)
用法筆記
A specialised agricultural term used primarily in British English and in historical or rural writing. The noun 'fold' refers to the fenced enclosure itself (see noun sense 3). This sense is rarely used in everyday conversation outside of farming communities.
fold — noun
- foldsingular
- foldsplural
1. the visible crease that appears where something such as paper, fabric, or skin h
the visible crease that appears where something such as paper, fabric, or skin has been doubled back on itself.
Ishaan ironed out the fold in his shirt before the job interview.
collocation: fold in [clothing]
Yumi carefully opened the letter along the fold so the paper would not rip.
The old road map had a deep fold down the middle from years of use.
Gabriela ran her thumb along the fold of the wrapping paper to smooth the edge.
文法句型
a/the fold + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with a prepositional phrase beginning with 'in' or 'of' to specify the material or object. Can also refer to a permanent crease in leather, cardboard, or fabric.
常見錯誤
2. a curved bend found within rock strata under the ground, produced by forces deep
a curved bend found within rock strata under the ground, produced by forces deep inside the earth over a very long period.
The hiking trail cut through a dramatic fold in the grey limestone rock.
collocation: fold in [rock type]
Geologists mapped the folds in the hills to learn how the mountain range was formed.
Ayana pointed at the wave-like fold visible in the cliff face during the field trip.
Emre examined the fold in the canyon wall and sketched its shape in his notebook.
- bend
general term; less precise than 'fold' in geology
- curvature
more formal and scientific, describes any curved shape in rock
- undulation
suggests a gentle, wave-like series of bends in the landscape
文法句型
a/the fold + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Primarily a technical term in geology. Not used to describe everyday bending of materials. 'Folds' in rock can be upward (anticline) or downward (syncline) in shape, though these specialist terms are not needed at this level.
常見錯誤
3. a small fenced area in a field where sheep are kept for shelter, especially over
a small fenced area in a field where sheep are kept for shelter, especially overnight.
The shepherd guided the sheep into the fold before the storm hit.
preposition: into the fold
Emre checked the fold each evening to ensure no lambs had gone missing.
A small wooden fold stood at the edge of the meadow for night-time shelter.
Heavy snow damaged the old fold, so the farmer rebuilt it with stronger posts.
文法句型
the fold
a fold
用法筆記
This sense is the historical root of sense 4 (below). In modern farming, 'fold' competes with 'pen' and 'enclosure'; 'fold' is more traditional and typically British. The word also refers to the flock itself in some older uses.
常見錯誤
4. a group, organization, or place where a person feels accepted, protected, and th
a group, organization, or place where a person feels accepted, protected, and that they truly belong — like a family, a church, a team, or a community.
After years abroad, Wei was welcomed back into the family fold with open arms.
idiomatic: the family fold
The community centre brought new members into its fold through free classes.
pattern: into its fold
Owen felt he had finally found his fold when he joined the local cycling club.
When the business struggled, the owner asked former staff to return to the fold.
- outsider
a person who does not belong to a particular group; the opposite of being 'in the fold'
文法句型
the fold
用法筆記
Almost always used in the singular with the definite article: 'the fold'. Common fixed expressions include 'return to the fold', 'welcome into the fold', and 'within the fold'. This sense is metaphorical, extending from sense 3 (a sheep enclosure) to any safe, welcoming group.
常見錯誤
fold — suffix
1. used after a number (or the prefix 'mani-') to form an adjective or adverb meani
used after a number (or the prefix 'mani-') to form an adjective or adverb meaning that something has that many parts, or that the amount has been multiplied by that number.
The city's population saw a fourfold increase between 1990 and 2020.
[number]-fold increase — common pattern for measurable growth
Niran received a threefold return on his investment in the technology company.
[number]-fold return — describing multiplication of value
The hospital faced a twofold challenge: rising costs and a shortage of nurses.
The benefits of a daily walk are manifold — it improves health, mood, and sleep.
- times
used after a number in informal comparison (three times as much), but -fold is more formal and works adjectivally
文法句型
[number]-fold increase/rise/reduction
manifold
用法筆記
Most common with small numbers (twofold, threefold, fourfold) and the special form manifold. The suffix can attach to any cardinal number (twentyfold, hundredfold) in formal or technical writing but sounds awkward with very large round numbers. When the meaning is 'multiplied by', the compound often appears with nouns like increase, rise, growth, jump, return. When the meaning is 'having that many parts', it is used with nouns like challenge, purpose, benefit, approach.