mould

¹

/ 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

²

/ 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

³

/ məʊld /

noun

1. loose soil, esp when rich in organic matter

2. poetic,  the earth

Other Word Forms

• mouldable adjective
• mouldability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mould¹

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

Origin of mould²

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 mould³

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

Example Sentences

"It is shocking that until a policy change in 2022, it was considered acceptable to house families in properties known to have damp and mould," the report said.

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She says she has been living with damp and mould for years.

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"How - in the UK in 2020 - does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?"

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Decked in white lab coats and masks to protect themselves from mould and other contaminants, a group of students at a laboratory at Valencia's Polytechnic University carefully clean and restore photos.

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He has the commitment, the passion the respect of players and fans and the ability to mould a successful team to challenge Celtic.

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Related Words

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