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Definition of fold noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fold

noun
 
 
/fəʊld/
 
/fəʊld/
Idioms
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  1.  
     [countable, usually plural] a part of something, especially cloth, that is folded or hangs as if it had been folded
    • the folds of her dress
    • loose folds of skin
    Extra Examples
    • She hid the note in a fold in her robe.
    • The fabric fell in soft folds.
    • the heavy folds of his cloak
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • loose
    • soft
    • deep
    • …
    verb + fold
    • be hidden behind
    • be hidden by
    • be hidden in
    • …
    preposition
    • in a/​the fold
    • fold in
    phrases
    • folds of flesh
    • folds of skin
    See full entry
  2. [countable] a mark or line made by folding something, or showing where something should be folded
    • Why is the place I want to find always on the fold of the map?
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • loose
    • soft
    • deep
    • …
    verb + fold
    • be hidden behind
    • be hidden by
    • be hidden in
    • …
    preposition
    • in a/​the fold
    • fold in
    phrases
    • folds of flesh
    • folds of skin
    See full entry
  3. [countable] an area in a field surrounded by a fence or wall where animals, especially sheep, are kept for safetyTopics Farmingc2
  4. the fold
     [singular] a group of people 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.
    Extra Examples
    • The country is now firmly back in the international fold.
    • She understood it would be a tough fight to bring the seat back into the Democratic party fold.
    • Many Protestants feared King Charles wanted to restore England to the Catholic fold.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • international
    verb + the fold
    • join
    • leave
    • come back into
    • …
    preposition
    • within a/​the fold
    See full entry
  5. [countable] (geology) a curve or bend in the line of the layers of rock in the earth’s crust
  6. [countable] (British English) a hollow place among hills or mountains
    • It was a solitary spot in a fold between two hills.
    Extra Examples
    • a fold in the land
    • The troops were hidden by the deep folds of the ground.
    7. Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 and noun senses 5 to 6 Old English falden, fealden, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vouwen and German falten. noun senses 3 to 4 Old English fald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vaalt.
Idioms
above/below the fold
  1. in/not in a position where you see it first, for example in the top/bottom part of a newspaper page or web page
    • Your ad will be placed above the fold for prominent exposure.
    • The images all appeared below the fold.
    compare above-the-fold, below-the-fold
See fold in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee fold in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: fold

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