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

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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

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

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verb

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

mould ³ British  

/ məʊld /

noun

1. loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter

2. poetic the earth

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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.

Example Sentences

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

Related Words

• chisel
• divide
• engrave
• etch
• fashion
• hack
• mold
• sculpt
• shape
• slice