noun
1. countable a part of sth, especially cloth, that is folded or hangs as if it had been folded
• the folds of her dress
• loose folds of skin
2. countable a mark or line made by folding sth, or showing where sth should be folded
• Why is the place I want to find always on the fold of the map?
3. countable an area in a field surrounded by a fence or wall where sheep are kept for safety
4. the fold singular a group of people with whom you feel you belong or who share the same ideas or beliefs
• He called on former Republican voters to return to the fold.
• She was determined to draw Matthew back into the family fold.
5. countable (geology) a curve or bend in the line of the layers of rock in the earth's crust
6. countable (BrE) a hollow place among hills or mountains
Word Origin:
v. and n. senses 1 to 2 n. senses 5 to 6 Old English falden fealden Germanic Dutch vouwen German falten
n. senses 3 to 4 Old English fald Germanic Dutch vaalt
Thesaurus:
fold noun C
• The fabric fell in soft folds.
• Why is the place I want to find always on the fold of the map?
wrinkle • • crease • • line •
a fold/crease in sth
a wrinkle/line on sth
a neat fold/crease
Fold or wrinkle? Fold is used more about fabric; wrinkle is used more about skin. Folds in fabric are tidy but wrinkles are unwanted. Wrinkles in skin are thin lines; folds are fatter and usually occur because sb is overweight.
Example Bank:
• His father finally accepted him back into the family fold.
• It was a solitary spot in a fold between two hills.
• She hid the note in a fold in her robe.
• The country is now firmly back in the international fold.
• The fabric fell in soft folds.
• The indigenous people were brought into the Catholic fold.
• The troops were hidden by the deep folds of the ground.
• a fold in the land
• billowing folds of clouds
• opposing viewpoints within the Anglican fold
• the heavy folds of his cloak
• the loose folds of flesh under her chin
• The child hid his face in the folds of his mother's skirt.
