fold
bend something over on itself
To bend something, like paper or clothes, so that one part covers another part and it becomes smaller or tidy.
to fold [something] (in half / in two / over / up)
- She folded the letter in half and slipped it into an envelope.
- Please fold the towels before you put them in the cupboard.
- He folded the map along the creases and put it back in his bag.
- The chairs fold flat so they are easy to store.
- Fold the paper over the edge to make a clean line.
- I fold my clothes and put them in the drawer.
- He folds the paper and puts it in his pocket.
- Please fold the blanket and leave it on the bed.
- She folds the note and gives it to her friend.
- These chairs fold, so we can carry them easily.
business or project stops operating
If a business or project folds, it stops doing business, usually because it has problems or no money.
[a business / project] folds
- The small bookstore folded after only two years in business.
- Several tech startups folded when investors pulled their money.
- Their magazine nearly folded during the pandemic but managed to survive.
- The club finally folded when membership dropped below ten people.
- Without new funding, the project will probably fold by the end of the year.
- The new café folded after six months.
- Many small shops folded during the crisis.
- Our local newspaper may fold next year.
- The music festival folded because not many people came.
- Their business almost folded, but they found a new partner.
stop playing a hand in cards
In poker or other card games, to fold means to stop playing that round and put your cards down, so you cannot win that round.
to fold (your hand) (in [a card game])
- He looked at his weak cards and decided to fold.
- With two players already all-in, she chose to fold her hand.
- You should probably fold here; the risk is too high.
- He refused to fold, even though the odds were against him.
- Most of the table folded as soon as he raised the bet.
- My cards are bad, so I fold.
- She folds and waits for the next game.
- You can win if he folds now.
- In poker, you can fold, call, or raise.
- I often fold when I do not like my cards.
gently mix ingredients in cooking
In cooking, to fold means to mix something in very gently by lifting and turning it, not beating or stirring fast.
to fold [ingredient] into [mixture]
- Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter so they do not lose their air.
- Add the chopped herbs and gently fold them into the yogurt.
- Do not stir; just fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
- Fold the berries into the dough right before baking.
- She showed him how to fold the cheese into the hot pasta.
- Fold the sugar into the eggs slowly.
- The recipe says to fold in the cream.
- First mix the flour, then fold in the butter.
- Please fold the fruit into the yogurt.
- Do not beat it; just fold it in.
bend arms or legs across body
To move a part of your body, like your arms or legs, so it is bent and close to you.
to fold [your arms / your legs / your hands]
- She folded her arms and waited for an answer.
- He sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap.
- The child folded his legs under him on the sofa.
- The monk folded his hands and began to pray.
- With his arms folded across his chest, he looked upset.
- She folds her arms when she is angry.
- He sits with his legs folded on the floor.
- The boy folds his hands before he eats.
- I fold my arms because I am cold.
- They stand with arms folded, listening to the teacher.
include something in a larger whole
To add something into something bigger, like putting one plan or group inside another plan or group.
to fold [something] into [a plan / group / process]
- We can fold your suggestions into the final proposal.
- The smaller departments will be folded into one central unit.
- Try to fold this new data into your analysis.
- Their climate goals are folded into the broader sustainability plan.
- The app will fold several services into a single platform.
- We will fold your ideas into the plan.
- The small team was folded into a bigger team.
- Please fold this information into your report.
- The new rules are folded into the old system.
- They fold customer feedback into product design.
crease or ridge where bent
A line or raised part in paper, cloth, skin, or land where it is bent and not flat.
a fold in [something]
- There was a fold in the paper where it had been bent.
- She brushed the dust from the folds of her skirt.
- Wrinkles are tiny folds in the skin.
- She stared at the soft folds of the curtain in the morning light.
- The path disappeared into the folds of the hills.
- There is a fold in this page.
- He sees folds in the old man’s skin.
- She smooths the folds of her dress.
- I iron my shirt to remove the folds.
- The town lies in the folds of the hills.
group or community of people
A group that someone belongs to, such as a family, church, or organization, often used when someone returns to that group.
back to the fold / within the fold / outside the fold
- After years abroad, he was warmly welcomed back into the fold.
- The article urged moderate voters to return to the party fold.
- They hope to bring young people back into the church fold.
- The company is trying to keep freelance workers within its fold.
- Former members were slowly drawn back to the fold.
- After many years, she returns to the family fold.
- The church brings him back into the fold.
- The group wants to keep its old members in the fold.
- He left the fold when he was young.
- They welcome her into the fold again.
pen or enclosure for sheep
A small closed place outside where sheep stay.
a sheep fold / into the fold
- The shepherd guided the flock into the fold before dark.
- A low stone wall marked the old sheep fold on the hillside.
- They kept the lambs in a separate fold near the house.
- At night the animals are brought back to the fold.
- The path runs past an abandoned sheep fold.
- The farmer takes the sheep to the fold.
- At night, the sheep sleep in the fold.
- We walk past an old sheep fold.
- They build a new fold for the animals.
- The lambs stay inside the fold.
a number of times as much
Used with a number to mean "that many times bigger" or "that many times more."
[number]‑fold increase / [number]‑fold higher
- The company reported a threefold increase in profits.
- Since then, the population has grown fourfold.
- There has been a tenfold rise in online sales.
- The risk is now fivefold higher than before.
- Production almost doubled, but costs rose threefold.
- We see a twofold increase in sales.
- Their income grew fourfold in ten years.
- The number of users is now threefold higher.
- The city’s size is almost tenfold today.
- Our costs did not double; they rose threefold.
- Base: fold
- Plural: fold, folds
- Base: fold
- 3rd Person Singular: folds
- Present Participle: folding
- Past: folded
back into the fold
1be inside the group again
To be part of a group, family, or organization again after being away or excluded.
- The coach worked hard to bring the star player back into the fold.
- After talks, the region was peacefully brought back into the fold.
- Former customers are slowly coming back into the fold.
fold away
1fold and store something
To fold something and then put it in a place where it is stored and not seen.
- They folded away the table after dinner.
- This bed folds away into the wall.
- When you are finished, fold away the chairs.
fold back
1bend something backward on itself
To bend a part of something, like paper or cloth, back the other way so it lies on top of itself.
- Fold back the corner of the page to mark your place.
- He folded back the rug to check the floor underneath.
- Fold back the top of the packet before you put it away.
fold in
1gently mix an ingredient in
To carefully mix an ingredient into another one in cooking by slowly lifting and turning it, not stirring fast.
- Fold in the chopped nuts right at the end.
- Once the sauce is smooth, fold in the cheese.
- She showed him how to fold in the whipped cream.
fold into
1include as part of something bigger
To add something, like an idea or plan, into something bigger so it becomes a part of it.
- We can fold your comments into the final report.
- The new policy will be folded into the existing framework.
- The feedback was folded into the next version of the app.
fold like a cheap suit
1give up or change easily
To give up or change your opinion very quickly and easily when there is a problem or pressure.
- He talks tough, but he folds like a cheap suit in negotiations.
- The team folded like a cheap suit after the first goal.
- Under questioning, the witness folded like a cheap suit.
fold someone in
1include a person in something
To make a person part of a group, meeting, or plan, especially by sharing information with them.
- Let’s fold her in on this project from the start.
- We should fold the new manager in on the discussion.
- They quickly folded the interns in on the planning process.
fold under pressure
1give up because of pressure
To stop fighting or saying no when there is a lot of pressure, even if you did not want to give up.
- The team refused to fold under pressure and finally won.
- He folded under pressure from the media and resigned.
- They did not fold under pressure from their competitors.
fold up
1fold something into a smaller shape
To make something smaller by folding it, often so you can carry or store it easily.
- Please fold up the blanket before you put it away.
- He folded up the stroller and put it in the trunk.
- She folded up the map and handed it back to me.
fold your arms
1bend arms across your chest
To put your arms across the front of your body so that they are bent and often touch each other.
- She folded her arms and waited in silence.
- He folded his arms across his chest and frowned.
- The teacher told him not to fold his arms during the presentation.
keep someone in the fold
1stop someone leaving a group
To make someone stay in a group, family, or organization instead of leaving it.
- The company is offering bonuses to keep staff in the fold.
- They are trying to keep younger members in the fold.
- Good communication helps keep customers in the fold.
return to the fold
1come back to a group you left
To join a group, family, church, or organization again after you left it for some time.
- After many years abroad, she finally returned to the fold.
- The party hopes that young voters will return to the fold.
- He left the company but later returned to the fold as a consultant.