fold
fohld
/fəʊld/
To bend something over upon itself so that one part covers another, particularly clothes or paper.
Key packing skill to maximize space and prevent clothes from wrinkling.
The story behind the word. Traced back to Proto-Germanic '*falthan', an ancient word present across all Germanic languages referring to bending flat materials over themselves.
Word relationships
- crease: Crease emphasizes creating a sharp line or wrinkle.
- tuck: Tuck means to insert the edges into something.
- unfold: To open or spread out something that was folded.
Commonly confused with
- roll: To roll means to turn clothing into a cylinder; to fold means to bend it into flat layers.
Word family
- unfold (verb): To open out something that is folded.
- folder (noun): A binder or cover for holding papers.
Collocations
- fold neatly
- fold clothes
- fold in half
- fold flat
Idioms & expressions
- fold under pressure (to give up or collapse)
- fold one's arms (cross arms across chest)
Example sentences
- "If you fold your shirts neatly along the seams, they will occupy far less space in your bag." Packing Advice
- "She began to fold the freshly laundered linen with meticulous precision." Literature
- "Carefully fold your jacket before placing it in the suitcase to prevent wrinkles." Travel Prep
Memory hook
FOLD flat to fit into your bag. Bend clothes into neat layers.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'crumple' or 'roll' (rolling clothes is a distinct packing technique).
Fun facts
- The 'rolling vs folding' debate remains one of the most fiercely contested topics among travel enthusiasts.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.