mould

¹

/ məʊld /

noun

1. a coating or discoloration caused by various saprotrophic fungi that develop in a damp atmosphere on the surface of stored food, fabrics, wallpaper, etc
2. any of the fungi that causes this growth

verb

1. to become or cause to become covered with this growth

mould

²

/ məʊld /

noun

1. a shaped cavity used to give a definite form to fluid or plastic material
2. a frame on which something may be constructed
3. something shaped in or made on a mould
4. shape, form, design, or pattern
5. specific nature, character, or type

   heroic mould

verb

1. to make in a mould
2. to shape or form, as by using a mould
3. to influence or direct

   to mould opinion

4. to cling to

   the skirt moulds her figure

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

mould

³

/ məʊld /

noun

1. loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter
2. poetic.
   the earth

Derived Forms

• ˈmouldable, adjective
• ˌmouldaˈbility, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mould¹

C15: dialect (Northern English) mowlde mouldy, from the past participle of moulen to become mouldy, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse mugla mould

Origin of mould²

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

Origin of mould³

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

Example Sentences

Maybe because Opoku-Fordjour does not fit the old tight-head mould, he has also appeared on the opposite side of the scrum.

From BBC

They have easy-to-fit sockets and a new direct moulding technique for lower limbs, which avoid month of waiting and multiple fittings.

From BBC

If Harris wants to win, she’ll have to not only have to get high turnout among the young women who support her, she’ll have to convince some women who might not fit the mould too.

From BBC

He said he has been without his accessibility toilet, which has rails to support his movement, after SH began work on his bathroom due to mould in September.

From BBC

The UK government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations – and Sir Keir Starmer has not shown any intention to break the mould.

From BBC

Related Words

• chisel
• divide
• engrave
• etch
• fashion
• hack
• mold
• sculpt
• shape
• slice