fold

foldverb

To fold something is to bend or close it so that one part lies against another.

1. paper or clothbend something such as paper or cloth so that one part lies flat on another part

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • Fold the letter and put it in the envelope. V + obj
   • She folded the towels and put them away. V + obj
   • Fold the paper in half. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fold a letter, fold clothes, fold the towels, fold a napkin

   phrase fold something in half, fold something in two, fold something neatly

   Antonyms unfold

2. make smallerbend or close something such as a chair or a table so that it takes up less space, or be able to be closed in this way

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adjective [V + adj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The table folds flat, so it is easy to store. V + adj
   • Can you fold the chairs and put them against the wall? V + obj
   • The bed folds away into the wall. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + adverb fold flat, fold away

   verb + noun fold a chair, fold a table, fold an umbrella

3. arms or handsput your arms across your chest, one over the other, or put your hands together, often with the fingers joined

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • He stood by the door with his arms folded.
   • She sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap. V + obj
   • The teacher folded her arms and waited. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fold your arms, fold your hands

4. businessclose and stop doing business because it is not successful

   The subject is a business, a newspaper, a magazine, or a show.

   intransitive [I]

   • The restaurant folded after only six months.
   • Many small shops folded during the bad years.
   • The magazine folded when it lost its biggest advertiser.

   Collocations

   noun + verb a business folds, a company folds, a newspaper folds

   Synonyms fail

5. cookingmix one food gently into another, turning it over with a spoon

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + adverb + object [V + adv + obj] cooking

   • Fold the flour into the egg mixture. V + obj + prep + obj
   • Gently fold in the cream. V + adv + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fold something into something, fold in something