mould
|mould|
🇺🇸
/moʊld/
🇬🇧
/məʊld/
shaping/forming; decorative trim
Etymology
'mould' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'molde', where 'molde' meant 'earth, soft mass'.
'mould' changed from Old English 'molde' through Middle English 'mold' and eventually became the modern English forms 'mould' (British) and 'mold' (American).
Initially, it meant 'earth' or 'soft mass', but over time it evolved into senses meaning 'a form or shape' and 'a fungal growth'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a fuzzy or powdery growth of microscopic fungi on organic material (food, damp surfaces).
There was a green mould on the bread.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a hollow container or form used to give shape to a substance (e.g., metal, chocolate, plaster).
She poured the chocolate into a mould.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a characteristic type, kind, or disposition (often used in the phrase 'of a different mould').
He's of a different mould than his brother.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
to shape or form a material by using a mould or by hand (to give something a particular form).
She likes to mould clay with her hands.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 12:14