fold

To bend paper, cloth, or another thin material so that one part lies over another.

• Fold the paper in half.
• She folded the letter and put it in an envelope.
• Can you fold this card without tearing it?

How to use it: fold something in half (Fold the paper in half before cutting it.); fold something over something (Fold the cloth over the edge of the table.)

Similar words: bend over

Opposites: unfold

Common phrases: fold paper, fold in half, fold something over

To bend clothes or other thin materials into a neat shape, often for storage.

• Please fold these towels.
• He folded his shirts and put them in a drawer.
• Have you folded the clean sheets yet?

Opposites: unfold

Common phrases: fold clothes, fold laundry, fold a shirt, fold neatly

To mix a soft ingredient into another gently, lifting the mixture over itself rather than stirring hard.

• Gently fold in the flour.
• She folded the beaten egg whites into the batter.
• Use a spatula to fold the cream into the mixture.

How to use it: fold something into something (Fold the cream into the chocolate mixture.); fold in something (Fold in the flour with a large spoon.)

Common phrases: fold in something, fold something into something, gently fold

To bend so that one part lies over another, or to develop bends in the material.

• Thin paper folds easily.
• The top corner folded over in my bag.
• This thick cardboard won't fold without cracking.

How to use it: fold over (The edge of the paper folded over.)

Similar words: bend

Opposites: unfold

Common phrases: fold easily, fold over, fold in half

To stop playing the current round of poker and give up any money you have already bet.

• I had bad cards, so I folded.
• Two players folded after she raised the bet.
• Should I fold my hand or keep playing?

Similar words: drop out, withdraw

Common phrases: fold your hand, fold in poker, decide to fold

A place where material bends over itself, or a line left by this bend.

• Cut along the fold.
• Her dress fell in soft folds.
• He smoothed out a fold in the tablecloth.

How to use it: fold in something (There was a fold in the corner of the page.)

Similar words: crease, bend

Common phrases: fold in something, deep fold, along the fold

An act of bending paper, cloth, or another material so that one part lies over another.

• Give the towel a fold.
• One more fold will make the paper small enough.
• She completed the paper boat with two final folds.

Similar words: bending, creasing

Common phrases: make a fold, give something a fold, one more fold

A small area surrounded by a fence or wall where sheep are kept.

• The sheep stayed in the fold.
• The shepherd closed the gate of the fold.
• At night, the lambs returned to their fold.

Similar words: sheep pen, sheepfold

Common phrases: sheep fold, inside the fold, return to the fold