mold
n. · v.-
1 shaping container (n.) B1 Intermediate American Englisha hollow container used to give shape to a liquid or soft substance as it hardens.
a hollow form or matrix used to shape fluid or plastic substances into a specific geometry as they solidify.
ExampleHe poured the melted chocolate into a star-shaped mold to make treats for the party.
ExampleThe industrial designer inspected the steel mold for imperfections before the first batch of plastic components was injected.
PitfallThe jelly was in a mold.The jelly was in the mold.When referring to the specific container used for a specific item, use the definite article 'the'.
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2 fungus (n.) B1 Intermediate American English Sciencea fuzzy growth of tiny fungi that appears on old food or damp surfaces.
a growth of minute fungi forming a furry or woolly coating on organic matter, typically associated with decay or dampness.
ExampleI had to throw the bread away because it was covered in green mold.
ExampleThe damp conditions in the basement encouraged the growth of black mold along the lower edges of the drywall.
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3 character or type (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American Englisha person's specific character or a fixed way of doing things.
a distinctive character, type, or a restrictive pattern of behavior or thought.
ExampleShe didn't fit the mold of a typical politician because she was very honest.
ExampleThe new CEO was determined to break the corporate mold and introduce a more flexible, creative working environment.
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4 to shape something (v.) B1 Intermediate American Englishto shape something into a particular form using your hands or a tool.
to give shape to a malleable substance by physical pressure or by using a form.
ExampleThe children liked to mold the clay into small animals.
ExampleThe sculptor spent hours trying to mold the wet clay into a realistic likeness of the subject's face.
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5 to influence (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate American Englishto influence the way someone or something develops.
to guide or determine the growth, development, or character of a person or entity.
ExampleTeachers have a great opportunity to mold the minds of their students.
ExampleThe experiences of his early childhood helped mold him into the resilient leader he is today.
From Middle English molde (“mold, cast”), from Old French modle, mole, from Latin modulus, from Latin modus. Doublet of module, modulus, and model.
From Middle English mowlde, noun use and alteration of mowled, past participle of mowlen, moulen (“to grow moldy”), from Old Norse mygla (compare dialectal Danish mugle), from Proto-Germanic muglōną, diminutive and denominative of mukiz 'soft substance' (compare Old Norse myki, mykr (“cow dung”)), from Proto-Indo-European *mewk- (“slick, soft”). More at muck and meek.
From Middle English molde, from Old English molde, from Proto-Germanic muldō (“dirt, soil”) (compare Old Frisian molde, Middle Dutch moude, Dutch moude, obsolete German Molte, Norwegian Bokmål mold, and Gothic 𐌼𐌿𐌻𐌳𐌰 (mulda)), from Proto-Indo-European ml̥h₂-téh₂ (compare Ashkun mič, Kamkata-viri muři, mřey, mřëi, Prasuni mire, Waigali muk, all meaning "clay").
From Middle English molde (“top of the head”), from Old English molda, molde, from Proto-West Germanic moldō, from Proto-Indo-European ml̥Hdʰṓ; exactly parallel to Sanskrit मूर्धन् (mūrdhán).