fold

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English falod; akin to Old Saxon faled enclosure Date: before 12th century 1. an enclosure for sheep 2. a. a flock of sheep b. a group of people or institutions that share a common faith, belief, activity, or enthusiasm II. transitive verb Date: before 12th century to pen up or confine (as sheep) in a fold III. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fealdan; akin to Old High German faldan to fold, Greek diplasios twofold Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to lay one part over another part of <

fold a letter

> 2. to reduce the length or bulk of by doubling over <

fold a tent

> 3. to clasp together ; entwine <

fold the hands

> 4. to clasp or enwrap closely ; embrace 5. to bend (as a layer of rock) into folds 6. a. to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating b. to incorporate closely 7. a. to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker) b. to bring to an end intransitive verb 1. to become doubled or pleated 2. to fail completely ; collapse; especially to go out of business 3. to fold one's cards (as in poker) • foldable adjective IV. noun Date: 13th century 1. a part doubled or laid over another part ; pleat 2. something that is folded together or that enfolds 3. a. a bend or flexure produced in rock by forces operative after the depositing or consolidation of the rock b. chiefly British an undulation in the landscape 4. a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane) 5. a crease made by folding something (as a newspaper)