mold

[ mohld ]

/ moʊld /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mold ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a hollow form or matrix for giving a particular shape to something in a molten or plastic state.

the shape created or imparted to a thing by a mold.

something formed in or on a mold: a mold of jelly.

a frame on which something is formed or made.

shape or form.

a prototype, example, or precursor.

a distinctive nature, character, or type: a person of a simple mold.

Shipbuilding.

a three-dimensional pattern used to shape a plate after it has been softened by heating.
a template for a frame.

Architecture.

a molding.
a group of moldings.

verb (used with object)

to work into a required shape or form; shape.

to shape or form in or on a mold.

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.

Nearby words

molar volume, molarity, molars, molasse, molasses, mold, mold loft, mold wash, moldable, moldau, moldavia

Also especially British, mould.

Origin of mold

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English molde < Old French modle < Latin modulus module; (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

Definition for mould (2 of 3)

mold

[ mohld ]

/ moʊld /

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

1150–1200; late Middle English mowlde, apparently noun use of variant of earlier mowled, past participle of moulen, mawlen to grow moldy, cognate with dialectal Danish mugle

Definition for mould (3 of 3)

mold

[ mohld ]

/ moʊld /

noun

loose, friable earth, especially when rich in organic matter and favorable to the growth of plants.

British Dialect. ground; earth.

Also especially British, mould.

Origin of mold

before 900; Middle English, Old English molde earth, dust, ground; cognate with Gothic mulda dust; akin to meal², mill¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mould

Tyler seems determined to force every line of his lengthy and detailed narrative into a mould that illustrates his basic theory.
Not a Useful Contribution|Daniel Gavron|October 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In pressed glass the exterior surface is modelled by the mould, whilst the interior surface is modelled by the plunger (fig. 20).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1|Various
But gradually I became aware of a hideous odor of mould and mildew, of must and damp decay that loaded the air with disgust.
The Thing from the Lake|Eleanor M. Ingram
In making even horizontal and clear inspections we colour and mould according to the wants within us whatever our eyes bring in.
Far from the Madding Crowd|Thomas Hardy

Turn it out of mould and garnish dish with water-cresses or celery, frizzed.
Margaret Brown's French Cookery Book|Margaret Brown
If the mould is required to be elastic, add three ounces of Treacle, and mix well with the Gelatine.
One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed|C. A. Bogardus

British Dictionary definitions for mould (1 of 4)

mould

US mold

/ (məʊld) /

noun

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

a frame on which something may be constructed

something shaped in or made on a mould

shape, form, design, or pattern

specific nature, character, or typeheroic mould

verb (tr)

to make in a mould

to shape or form, as by using a mould

to influence or directto mould opinion

to cling tothe skirt moulds her figure

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

Derived Formsmouldable or US moldable, adjectivemouldability or US moldability, noun

Word Origin for mould

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

British Dictionary definitions for mould (2 of 4)

mould

US mold

/ (məʊld) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for mould (3 of 4)

mould

US mold

/ (məʊld) /

noun

loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter

poetic the earth

Word Origin for mould

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

British Dictionary definitions for mould (4 of 4)

mold

/ (məʊld) /

noun, verb

the US spelling of mould 1

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

Word Origin and History for mould (1 of 5)

mould

chiefly British English spelling of mold in various senses. Related: Moulded; moulding.

Word Origin and History for mould (1 of 5)

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.

Word Origin and History for mould (2 of 5)

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)).

Word Origin and History for mould (3 of 5)

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."

Word Origin and History for mould (4 of 5)

mold

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.

Science definitions for mould

mold

[ mōld ]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with mould

mold

see cast in the same mold.

mold

noun

verb (used with object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of mold

Definition for mould (2 of 3)

mold

noun

verb (used with or without object)

Origin of mold

Definition for mould (3 of 3)

mold

noun

Origin of mold

Examples from the Web for mould

British Dictionary definitions for mould (1 of 4)

mould

US mold

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for mould

British Dictionary definitions for mould (2 of 4)

mould

US mold

noun

verb

Word Origin for mould

British Dictionary definitions for mould (3 of 4)

mould

US mold

noun

Word Origin for mould

British Dictionary definitions for mould (4 of 4)

mold

noun, verb

Word Origin and History for mould (1 of 5)

mould

Word Origin and History for mould (1 of 5)

mold

Word Origin and History for mould (2 of 5)

mold

Word Origin and History for mould (3 of 5)

mold

Word Origin and History for mould (4 of 5)

mold

Science definitions for mould

mold

Idioms and Phrases with mould

mold