If you fold something such as a piece of paper or cloth, you bend it so that one part covers another part, often pressing the edge so that it stays in place.

A fold in a piece of paper or cloth is a bend that you make in it when you put one part of it over another part and press the edge.

The folds in a piece of cloth are the curved shapes which are formed when it is not hanging or lying flat.

If a piece of furniture or equipment folds or if you can fold it, you can make it smaller by bending or closing parts of it.

If you fold your arms or hands, you bring them together and cross or link them, for example over your chest.

If a business or organization folds, it is unsuccessful and has to close.

When someone joins an organization or group, you can say that they have come into the fold. When they leave the organization or group, you can say that they leave the fold .

In cooking, if you fold in an ingredient or fold it into the other ingredients, you mix it very gently into the other ingredients.

If you fold something up, you make it into a smaller, neater shape by folding it, usually several times.