FOLD

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. a bend or close (a flexible thing) over upon itself. b (foll. by back, over, down) bend a part of (a flexible thing) in the manner specified (fold down the flap). 2 intr. become or be able to be folded. 3 tr. (foll. by away, up) make compact by folding. 4 intr. (often foll. by up) colloq. a collapse, disintegrate. b (of an enterprise) fail; go bankrupt. 5 tr. poet. embrace (esp. fold in the arms or to the breast). 6 tr. (foll. by about, round) clasp (the arms); wrap, envelop. 7 tr. (foll. by in) mix (an ingredient with others) using a gentle cutting and turning motion. --n. 1 the act or an instance of folding. 2 a line made by or for folding. 3 a folded part. 4 a hollow among hills. 5 Geol. a curvature of strata. øfold one's arms place one's arms across the chest, side by side or entwined. fold one's hands clasp them. folding door a door with jointed sections, folding on itself when opened. folding money esp. US colloq. banknotes. fold-out an oversize page in a book etc. to be unfolded by the reader. øøfoldable adj. [OE falden, fealden f. Gmc]