folder
gb/fˈoʊldɚ/ us/fˈoʊldɚ/
A2
English
~ 3900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Cover or holder for papers
A flat cover used to keep papers together and safe.
Usage pattern:
[someone] puts [papers] in a folder
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'folder' with 'file' when talking about computer data; in computing, 'folder' refers to a digital directory, not the physical paper holder.
Synonyms
file (Often used interchangeably in office contexts, but 'file' can also mean a collection of documents or data.)
|
binder (Holds papers together with rings, unlike a simple folder.)
Antonyms
loose papers (Papers that are not organized or contained.)
Collocations
file folder
|manila folder
|open a folder
|put in a folder
|paper folder
Themes
office
|organization
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
Examples
- She placed the signed contract in a blue folder.
- Each student received a folder for their class materials.
- The report is in the folder on my desk.
- He labeled each folder with the project name.
- I keep my receipts in a separate folder for taxes.
Learner examples
- I put my homework in the folder.
- The folder is on the table.
- She has a red folder for her notes.
- This folder is full of papers.
Noun
technical
A2
entity
2
Digital container for files
A place on a computer where you keep files together.
Usage pattern:
[someone] saves [a file] in a folder
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly call a single file a 'folder'; remember that a folder holds files, it is not itself a file.
Synonyms
directory (More technical term used especially in computing contexts.)
Antonyms
desktop (Files not stored in any specific folder but directly on the main workspace screen.)
Collocations
create a folder
|open a folder
|delete a folder
|shared folder
|folder structure
Themes
technology
|computing
Examples
- Save the document in your project folder.
- You can create a new folder to organize your photos.
- The shared folder contains all the team resources.
- She accidentally deleted the entire folder.
- All your downloads go into the 'Downloads' folder by default.
Learner examples
- I made a new folder for my pictures.
- The file is in the music folder.
- Please open the games folder.
- I put all my work in one folder.
Grammar
Expressions
create a folder
2/kɹiˈeɪt ə fˈoʊldɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Make a new computer folder
To make a new place on a computer to keep files together.
Examples
- You need to create a new folder for your homework files.
- Right-click and select 'Create Folder' from the menu.
file folder
3/fˈaɪl fˈoʊldɚ/
fixed phrase
Paper holder for documents
A thin cover used in offices to hold papers together.
Examples
- She bought a file folder to organize her bills.
- The file folders are in the top drawer.
open a folder
1/ˈoʊpən ə fˈoʊldɚ/
fixed phrase
Access items inside a folder
To look inside a physical or computer folder to see what is there.
Examples
- Please open the folder and take out the documents.
- Double-click to open the folder on your desktop.