# mulder

/ˈməɫdɝ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mulder
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

to let something rot or go bad, especially when talking about food or plants. It is a very old word that people rarely use today.

For teachers: to decay, rot, or become mouldy. Intransitive; primarily found in archaic or dialectal British English contexts.

## Examples

- The fruit began to mulder in the damp cellar.
- Left untouched in the abandoned pantry, the bread started to mulder and turn a dark green.
- The ancient tapestries were left to mulder in the humid castle chambers, eventually crumbling into unrecognizable threads of silk and wool.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.