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Synonyms

mould

1 British  
/ məʊld /

noun

  1. a shaped cavity used to give a definite form to fluid or plastic material

  2. a frame on which something may be constructed

  3. something shaped in or made on a mould

  4. shape, form, design, or pattern

  5. specific nature, character, or type

    heroic mould

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to make in a mould

  2. to shape or form, as by using a mould

  3. to influence or direct

    to mould opinion

  4. to cling to

    the skirt moulds her figure

  5. metallurgy to make (a material such as sand) into a mould that is used in casting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
mould 2 British  
/ məʊld /

noun

  1. a coating or discoloration caused by various saprotrophic fungi that develop in a damp atmosphere on the surface of stored food, fabrics, wallpaper, etc

  2. any of the fungi that causes this growth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to become or cause to become covered with this growth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
mould 3 British  
/ məʊld /

noun

  1. loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter

  2. poetic the earth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • mouldability noun
  • mouldable adjective

Etymology

Origin of mould1

C13 (n): changed from Old French modle, from Latin modulus a small measure, module

Origin of mould2

C15: dialect (Northern English) mowlde mouldy, from the past participle of moulen to become mouldy, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse mugla mould

Origin of mould3

Old English molde; related to Old High German molta soil, Gothic mulde

Explanation

Mould is the British spelling for "mold" — the stuff you find growing on old bread or the container you use to create your jello masterpieces. Living mould is like “mildew,” it’s a type of fungus that grows on damp or decaying matter. Mould can also mean a “caste” used to shape a hardening liquid. In this sense mould can refer to both the container and the end product that comes out of the mould. In addition, mould is used as a verb to describe the process of making a mould. When you pour plaster into a mould to make a shape, you mould that shape.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Footage seen by the BBC shows what appears to be undercooked food, buffets surrounded by flies and mould in rooms.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Midfield partner Bryn Bradley, 22, is from a similar hard-running mould.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin after mould accidentally contaminated a laboratory dish and killed surrounding bacteria.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

The second, most prominent, son of the late ayatollah is in his father's ultraconservative mould.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

So tall were the spiny thickets that the hobbits could walk upright under them, passing through long dry aisles carpeted with a deep prickly mould.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien