fold
Third Person
folds
Present Participle
folding
Past Tense
folded
Past Participle
folded
1
to bend something in a way that one part of it touches or covers another
transitive
- She carefully folded the letter before placing it in the envelope for mailing.
- The origami artist skillfully folded the paper to create a delicate swan.
- Before baking, she had to fold the pastry edges to seal the delicious filling.
- To save space, she folded the clothes and arranged them in the suitcase.
- She decided to fold the napkin into an elegant shape for the dinner table.
Antonyms:
2
to give up one's hand and forfeit any further involvement in the current hand, usually in response to another player's bet or raise, or when a player recognizes that their hand is unlikely to win
- John studied his cards carefully, but realizing his hand was weak, he decided to fold early in the round.
- Emily faced a tough decision but ultimately decided to fold, preserving her stack for future hands.
- Facing a large bet from his opponent, James suspected a bluff and hesitated before finally choosing to fold.
- Alex knew his chances of winning were slim, so he opted to fold rather than risk losing more chips.
- The seasoned player could sense weakness in his opponent's demeanor and used a well-timed bluff to force him to fold.
3
(of a company, organization, etc.) to close or stop trading due to financial problems
- After years of struggling to compete in the market, the small bookstore had to fold.
- The restaurant had to fold when foot traffic dwindled due to changes in the neighborhood.
- The economic downturn caused several startups to fold within months of launching.
- Following a series of mismanagement issues and declining revenues, the historic theater was forced to fold.
- The family-owned farm had to fold after generations of operation when land prices soared.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
4
to incorporate one ingredient into another by gently lifting and turning the mixture with a spatula or spoon
transitive
- After whipping the cream, gently fold the melted chocolate into the whipped cream.
- To ensure the soufflé batter maintains its lightness, fold the beaten egg whites into the base mixture using a spatula.
- Carefully fold the fresh berries into the whipped cream, taking care to distribute them evenly.
- Fold the sliced strawberries into the whipped cream, creating layers of fruit and cream without crushing the berries.
5
to form a crease or bend
- As the fabric cooled, it began to fold, creating crisp pleats in the shirt.
- Over time, the paper started to fold along the edges.
- As the temperature dropped, the leaves began to fold, curling inward to protect themselves from the cold.
- Despite her best efforts, the origami crane refused to fold properly, its delicate paper creasing in unexpected ways.
- The heavy drapes began to fold at the hems, adding a touch of elegance to the room's decor.
Synonyms:
6
to confine or shut livestock within a pen or enclosure
transitive
- As the sun began to set, the shepherd folded the flock of sheep into the enclosure.
- Before the storm arrived, the farmers hurried to fold their cattle and sheep into the safety of the sturdy pens.
- Each evening, the ranch hands would fold the horses into the spacious stable.
- The nomadic tribes would fold their camels and goats into makeshift enclosures during their seasonal migrations.
- With a whistle and a gentle nudge, the sheepdog would help fold the unruly herd of sheep for shearing.
Synonyms: