Metallurgy. to form a mold of or from, in order to make a casting.
to produce by or as if by shaping material; form.
to have influence in determining or forming: to mold the character of a child.
to ornament with moldings.
Also especially British, mould.
Origin of mold
1
1175–1225; (noun) Middle Englishmolde < Old Frenchmodle < Latinmodulusmodule; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun
Related formsmold·a·ble, mould·a·ble, adjectivemold·a·bil·i·ty, mould·a·bil·i·ty, noun
mold
2
[mohld]
noun
a growth of minute fungi forming on vegetable or animal matter, commonly as a downy or furry coating, and associated with decay or dampness.
any of the fungi that produce such a growth.
verb (used with or without object)
to become or cause to become overgrown or covered with mold.
Also especially British, mould.
Origin of mold
2
1150–1200;late Middle Englishmowlde, apparently noun use of variant of earlier mowled, past participle of moulen, mawlen to grow moldy, cognate with dialectal Danishmugle
mold
3
[mohld]
noun
loose, friable earth, especially when rich in organic matter and favorable to the growth of plants.
BritishDialect. ground; earth.
Also especially British, mould.
Origin of mold
3
before 900;Middle English,Old Englishmolde earth, dust, ground; cognate with Gothicmulda dust; akin to meal2, mill1
C13 (n): changed from Old French modle, from Latin modulus a small measure, module
mould
2
USmold
noun
a coating or discoloration caused by various saprotrophic fungi that develop in a damp atmosphere on the surface of stored food, fabrics, wallpaper, etc
any of the fungi that causes this growth
verb
to become or cause to become covered with this growth
Also called: mildew
Word Origin for mould
C15: dialect (Northern English) mowlde mouldy, from the past participle of moulen to become mouldy, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse mugla mould
mould
3
USmold
noun
loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter
poeticthe earth
Word Origin for mould
Old English molde; related to Old High German molta soil, Gothic mulde
chiefly British English spelling of mold in various senses. Related: Moulded; moulding.
mold
n.1
also mould, "hollow shape," c.1200, originally "fashion, form; nature, native constitution, character," metathesized from Old French modle "model, plan, copy; way, manner" (12c., Modern French moule), from Latin modulum (nominative modulus) "measure, model," diminutive of modus "manner" (see mode (1)). From c.1300 as "pattern or model by which something is shaped or made." To break the mold "render impossible the creation of another" is from 1560s.
mold
n.2
also mould, "furry fungus," early 15c., probably from moulde, past participle of moulen "to grow moldy" (early 13c.), related to Old Norse mygla "grow moldy," possibly from Proto-Germanic *(s)muk- indicating "wetness, slipperiness," from PIE *meug- (see mucus). Or it might have evolved from (or been influenced by) Old English molde "loose earth" (see mold (n.3)).
mold
n.3
also mould, "loose earth," Old English molde "earth, sand, dust, soil; land, country, world," from Proto-Germanic *mulda (cf. Old Frisian molde "earth, soil," Old Norse mold "earth," Middle Dutch moude, Dutch moude, Old High German molta "dust, earth," Gothic mulda "dust"), from PIE root *mele- "to rub, grind" (see meal (n.2)). Specifically, since late (Christian) Old English, "the earth of the grave."
mold
v.
also mould, mid-14c., "to mix, blend;" late 14c. "to knead, shape," from mold (n.1). Figurative sense (of character, etc.) is from c.1600. Related: Molded; molding.
Any of various fungi that often form a fuzzy growth (called a mycelium) on the surface of organic matter. Some molds cause food to spoil, but others are beneficial, such as those used to make certain cheeses and those from which antibiotics like penicillin are developed. The molds do not form a distinct phylogenetic grouping but belong to various phyla including the ascomycetes and the zygomycetes. See also slime mold.
