1 : to bend one part of (something) over or against another part [+ obj] ▪ He folded the paper in half and then unfolded it again. ▪ Fold the flaps open/shut. ▪ He folded the blanket and laid it at the foot of the bed. ▪ She folded over the edge of the fabric to make a hem. ▪ a piece of paper folded into the shape of a bird [no obj] ▪ The paper folded easily. ▪ The map folds neatly/flat so you can fit it in a pocket. 2 : to reduce the length or size of something (such as a piece of furniture) by moving parts of it so that they lie close together [+ obj] ▪ We folded (up) the lawn chair and put it in the trunk. [no obj] ▪ The lawn chair folded (up) easily. ▪ The bed folds (away) into a space in the wall. 3 [+ obj] a : to put your arm or hand over your other arm or hand in a way that keeps them together
▪ She folded [=crossed] her arms across her chest. ▪ She folded her hands on her lap. ▪ He folded his arms around her. ▪ hands folded in prayer
b : to bend (a leg, a knee, an elbow, etc.)
▪ He sat with his legs folded under him. 4 [+ obj] literary : to put your arms around (someone) : embrace
▪ She folded him in her arms. 5 [+ obj] : to add (a food ingredient) to a mixture by gently and repeatedly lifting one part over another
▪ Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. 6 [no obj] : to fail completely : collapse
▪ The business folded. 7 [no obj] : to accept defeat in a card game (such as poker) by removing your cards from the game
▪ Realizing that she probably wasn't bluffing, he decided to fold.