English Reference
noun

folder

n.
US /ˈfoʊɫdɝ/ UK /fˈəʊldɐ/ fold·er UK spelling folders

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    a cardboard or plastic cover used to keep loose papers together and organized.

    a physical container, typically made of stiff paper or plastic, used to hold and organize loose documents.

    Simple

    She put the signed contract into a blue folder and placed it in the drawer.

    In context

    The legal assistant organized the evidence into several colour-coded folders to ensure the attorney could locate specific documents quickly during the trial.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary Computing

    a place on a computer where you store related files and other folders.

    a virtual directory in a computer's file system used to group related files and subdirectories.

    Simple

    I created a new folder on my desktop to save all my holiday photos.

    In context

    The system administrator recommended moving the archived logs into a separate folder to prevent the main directory from becoming cluttered.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical

    a person or a machine that folds things, like clothes or paper.

    an agent, whether human or mechanical, that performs the action of folding material.

    Simple

    The industrial laundry has a high-speed folder for bed sheets.

    In context

    The printing press includes an automated folder that creases the newspapers before they are bundled for delivery.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency InformalTechnical

    a knife with a blade that folds into the handle.

    a pocketknife or similar cutting tool featuring a blade that pivots into the handle for safe storage.

    Simple

    He carried a small folder in his pocket for opening boxes at work.

    In context

    The collector specialized in custom folders, admiring the precision of the locking mechanisms and the quality of the forged steel.

    pocketknifeclasp knife
    fixed blade

From fold + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated