folds
folds — verb
1. to bring one part of paper, cloth, or another thin material over another part so
to bring one part of paper, cloth, or another thin material over another part so the two parts lie together, or to become bent in that way.
Jisoo folds the concert poster in half before slipping it into her backpack.
fold + object + in half
Femi folds the warm towels while the baby sleeps upstairs.
fold + laundry/towels
The road map folds neatly along the blue lines near the harbour.
Lucía folds the napkin into a small triangle beside each plate.
The screen folds flat against the wall after the workshop ends.
- crease
emphasises the line that remains after the action
- double over
stresses one part lying directly on another
- bend
broader and weaker; the two parts may not touch
文法句型
fold + object
fold + adverb (in half / over / up)
用法筆記
Often followed by a direction phrase such as 'in half', 'over', 'up', or 'flat' to show exactly how the material moves.
常見錯誤
2. to cover an object by bringing cloth, paper, or another soft material around it
to cover an object by bringing cloth, paper, or another soft material around it in a loose wrap.
Romi folds the hot bread in a clean tea towel to keep it soft.
fold + object + in + cloth
Yael folds the silver bracelet into tissue paper before placing it in the box.
fold + object + into + wrapping
The nurse folds the newborn in a light blanket before handing him to Faisal.
Olivia folds the small bottle in a scarf so it will not break.
- unwrap
remove the covering material
文法句型
fold something in something
fold something into something
用法筆記
Distinct from sense 1: here the material goes around another object, instead of the material simply doubling over itself.
常見錯誤
3. to cross one arm over the other in front of your chest, often to show waiting, d
to cross one arm over the other in front of your chest, often to show waiting, doubt, or quiet refusal.
Aarav folds his arms by the door and waits for the music to stop.
fold + your arms
Élise folds her arms during the meeting when the manager ignores her question.
fold arms to show resistance
The coach folds his arms and studies the scoreboard in silence.
At the station, the cold passenger folds his arms inside a thin jacket.
文法句型
fold + your arms
stand with arms folded
用法筆記
The object is almost always 'your arms' or another possessive form such as 'her arms'. It often signals a mood as much as a physical action.
常見錯誤
4. to move a leg, wing, hand, or another body part inward so it rests close against
to move a leg, wing, hand, or another body part inward so it rests close against the body or under it.
Linh folds her legs under the bench while she waits for the dentist.
fold + legs under
The white crane folds its wings against its body beside the reeds.
fold + wings against body
Ziad folds his hands into his lap before the piano recital begins.
The tired child folds her knees to her chest on the sofa.
- stretch out
extend the body part away from the body
- extend
more formal opposite
文法句型
fold + body part + under / against / into
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3, this sense is not limited to arms. A direction phrase usually follows so the reader can picture where the body part goes.
常見錯誤
5. to stop operating because a business has failed, or to shut a business after it
to stop operating because a business has failed, or to shut a business after it can no longer survive financially.
The corner bakery folds after a year of rising rent and weak sales.
a business folds after losses
By October, the owners fold the travel agency and sell the office desks.
fold + business object
Another family restaurant folds when the landlord doubles the monthly rent.
Investors fold the small startup before the second product reaches stores.
- close down
neutral and more general
- go under
informal and strongly tied to financial failure
- shut
can be voluntary, so it is broader than 'fold'
文法句型
a business folds
fold a company after losses
用法筆記
In everyday news and business talk, the subject is often the company itself. The transitive use exists, but it is less common than simply saying the business folds.
常見錯誤
6. to stop arguing, competing, or pressing for something because you believe contin
to stop arguing, competing, or pressing for something because you believe continuing will not bring success.
After two more refusals from the bank, the smaller union folds and drops its complaint.
fold + and + stop trying
The campaign folds under pressure once the leaked messages reach local reporters.
fold under pressure
Even after the crowd grows louder, Nadia never folds during the public debate.
The smaller team folds in the final minute when the captain limps off injured.
文法句型
fold under pressure
fold after repeated setbacks
用法筆記
This sense is broader than the card-game meaning in sense 7. It usually appears when someone backs down in a contest, dispute, or negotiation.
常見錯誤
7. in a card game, to stop playing a round because you accept you will not win, oft
in a card game, to stop playing a round because you accept you will not win, often by laying your cards down and no longer betting.
Faisal folds before the last card appears and saves the rest of his chips.
fold before the last card
The nervous student folds when Lucía raises the bet for a third time.
fold when someone raises
No one folds during the first hand because the table is still cautious.
After a long pause, the dealer sees Ziad fold and push his cards forward.
- drop out
general description, but less specific to cards
- lay down your hand
describes the action more literally
文法句型
fold on the turn
fold before the river card
用法筆記
Restricted to card games, especially poker. Unlike sense 6, the decision is tied to one hand or round of play rather than a general conflict.
常見錯誤
8. to combine one food ingredient with another mixture by lifting and turning it ge
to combine one food ingredient with another mixture by lifting and turning it gently so the mixture keeps its light texture.
The recipe says Jisoo folds the egg whites into the batter with slow strokes.
fold + ingredient + into + batter
Romi folds the blueberries in last so the muffin mixture stays light.
fold in + ingredient
At the bakery, the pastry chef folds cream into the filling with a wide spoon.
The video shows how gently the cook folds nuts into the warm chocolate.
- fold in
the common recipe phrasing
- incorporate
more formal and less specific about the motion
文法句型
fold + ingredient + into + mixture
fold in + ingredient
用法筆記
Usually appears in cooking instructions. The key idea is the gentle turning motion, which is different from ordinary stirring or beating.
常見錯誤
folds — noun
1. lines or curved marks in paper, cloth, skin, or another surface where it has ben
lines or curved marks in paper, cloth, skin, or another surface where it has bent over on itself.
Soft folds in the curtain moved each time the sea wind reached the room.
folds in + cloth
The old letter still shows deep folds across the middle from years in a drawer.
deep folds across the middle
Tiny folds around Olivia's eyes appear whenever she laughs at family dinners.
The tailor smooths the folds in the silk before measuring the hem.
文法句型
folds in something
soft folds of cloth
用法筆記
The plural is especially common when several lines appear together in cloth or skin. Use 'in' to say where the folds are.
常見錯誤
2. curved shapes in underground rock layers formed when pressure pushes the rock si
curved shapes in underground rock layers formed when pressure pushes the rock sideways over a long period.
Ancient folds in the cliff show where the seabed rose millions of years ago.
ancient folds in the cliff
The class studies the folds in these dark rocks before visiting the mountain pass.
study the folds in rocks
Long folds beneath the valley explain why the hills curve toward the coast.
A field guide helps Aarav identify folds and faults along the trail.
文法句型
folds in the rock
ancient folds
用法筆記
This is specialist geological vocabulary. It refers to bent rock layers, not to cracks or breaks in the rock.
常見錯誤
3. small fenced places where sheep are kept, especially at night for safety.
small fenced places where sheep are kept, especially at night for safety.
Old stone folds still stand above the village road near the ruined barn.
stone folds on a hillside
Before the storm arrives, the shepherd moves the lambs into the nearest folds.
move lambs into folds
Several empty folds dot the wet hillside behind the church.
The guide points out ruined folds that once protected sheep from wolves.
- pens
the everyday modern word for small animal enclosures
- enclosures
broader and not limited to sheep
- pastures
open grazing land rather than a closed space
文法句型
stone folds on a hillside
lead sheep into folds
用法筆記
A traditional rural word. Modern speakers usually say 'pens' or 'enclosures' unless they are describing old sheep country.
4. the community or circle that accepts someone as one of its own, especially when
the community or circle that accepts someone as one of its own, especially when that person returns after time away.
After a decade abroad, Yael returns to the fold of her old choir.
return to the fold
The charity welcomes Romi back into the fold after her years overseas.
welcome back into the fold
Former players hope the club will bring them back into the fold.
At graduation, Linh finally feels part of the fold again.
- outside
a position beyond the group's acceptance
文法句型
return to the fold
welcome someone back into the fold
用法筆記
Usually appears as 'the fold' with verbs of returning or welcoming back. It often suggests a group that feels like home rather than a casual club.