mould
UK[məʊld]US[moʊld]
n
a hollow container used to give shape to a soft or liquid substance when it cools or hardens
n
a soft, greenish or greyish growth that forms on old food or damp surfaces
v
to shape a soft substance into a particular form or object
v
to influence the character or development of someone or something
Etymology
The word 'mould' traces its lineage to the Latin noun 'modulus', meaning a small measure, standard, or model. This term entered Old French as 'modle' or 'moule', signifying a pattern or hollow form for shaping. The semantic core of "a form that imparts shape" was retained as the word was adopted into Middle English. Over time, this central concept branched into its primary modern meanings: the physical container for shaping materials and, by metaphorical extension, the fungal growth that forms its own distinctive shape on surfaces. A secondary but powerful figurative sense, "to influence character," also evolved directly from the idea of shaping or forming.
Analysis
The word 'mould' is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Old French, which itself derived from the Latin 'modulus', meaning a small measure or standard. The core concept is a pattern or form used for shaping.
Examples
The molten metal was poured into a sand mould to create the engine part.
A layer of black mould had spread across the bathroom ceiling.
His early teachers helped to mould his interest in science.