fold
UK[fəʊld]US[foʊld]
v
To bend something, especially paper or cloth, so that one part lies on top of another part.
v
To bring parts of something together and lay them across each other.
n
A part of something, especially cloth, that is folded or hangs as if folded.
n
A line or crease produced in paper or cloth by folding.
Etymology
The word 'fold' descends directly from the Old English verb 'fealdan', meaning "to bend, turn back, or double up." This Old English term is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic falthaną, which carries the same core sense of bending or folding. The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root pel-, meaning "to fold," a concept that also gave rise to words like Greek 'ploos' (fold) and Latin 'plus' (more, implying a fold or multiple). The semantic journey is remarkably direct, with the modern English word retaining the ancient, concrete action of bending one part over another, a meaning that has remained stable for millennia.
Analysis
The word 'fold' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a complete lexical root.
Examples
She carefully folded the letter and placed it in the envelope.
The software allows you to fold sections of code to make it easier to read.
The map had a deep fold that was starting to tear.