MOLD

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mold mean? 

• MOLD (noun)
  The noun MOLD has 8 senses:

1. the distinctive form in which a thing is made

2. container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens

3. loose soil rich in organic matter

4. the process of becoming mildewed

5. a fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter

6. a dish or dessert that is formed in or on a mold

7. a distinctive nature, character, or type

8. sculpture produced by molding

  Familiarity information: MOLD used as a noun is common.

• MOLD (verb)
  The verb MOLD has 6 senses:

1. form in clay, wax, etc

2. become moldy; spoil due to humidity

3. form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold

4. make something, usually for a specific function

5. fit tightly, follow the contours of

6. shape or influence; give direction to

  Familiarity information: MOLD used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOLD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The distinctive form in which a thing is made

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

cast; mold; mould; stamp

Context example:

pottery of this cast was found throughout the region

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

solid (a three-dimensional shape)

Derivation:

mold (make something, usually for a specific function)

mold (form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold)

mold (form in clay, wax, etc)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cast; mold; mould

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

container (any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mold"):

matrix (mold used in the production of phonograph records, type, or other relief surface)

pig; pig bed (mold consisting of a bed of sand in which pig iron is cast)

sandbox (mold consisting of a box with sand shaped to mold metal)

form (a mold for setting concrete)

Derivation:

mold (form in clay, wax, etc)

mold (form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Loose soil rich in organic matter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

mold; mould

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

dirt; soil (the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mold"):

leaf mold; leaf mould; leaf soil (soil composed mainly of decaying leaves)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The process of becoming mildewed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

mildew; mold; mould

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

spoilage; spoiling (the process of becoming spoiled)

Derivation:

mold (become moldy; spoil due to humidity)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

mold; mould

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

fungus (an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mold"):

mucor (any mold of the genus Mucor)

rhizopus (any of various rot causing fungi of the genus Rhizopus)

water mold (parasitic or saprobic organisms living chiefly in fresh water or moist soil)

Derivation:

mold (become moldy; spoil due to humidity)

moldy (covered with or smelling of mold)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A dish or dessert that is formed in or on a mold

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

mold; mould

Context example:

a gelatin dessert made in a mold

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

dish (a particular item of prepared food)

afters; dessert; sweet (a dish served as the last course of a meal)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A distinctive nature, character, or type

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

mold; mould

Context example:

a leader in the mold of her predecessors

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

earmark; hallmark; stylemark; trademark (a distinctive characteristic or attribute)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Sculpture produced by molding

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

clay sculpture; modeling; mold; molding; mould; moulding

Hypernyms ("mold" is a kind of...):

sculpture (a three-dimensional work of plastic art)

Derivation:

mold (form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold)

mold (form in clay, wax, etc)

• MOLD (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Form in clay, wax, etc

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

model; mold; mould

Context example:

model a head with clay

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work (make something, usually for a specific function)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he mold his major works over a short period of time?

Derivation:

mold (container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens)

mold (sculpture produced by molding)

mold (the distinctive form in which a thing is made)

moldable (capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material))

molding (the act of creating something by casting it in a mold)

molding (a preliminary sculpture in wax or clay from which a finished work can be copied)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become moldy; spoil due to humidity

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

mildew; mold

Context example:

The furniture molded in the old house

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mold"):

smut (become affected with smut)

dry-rot (affect or be affected with dry rot)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s something

Derivation:

mold (a fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter)

mold (the process of becoming mildewed)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

cast; mold; mould

Context example:

cast a bronze sculpture

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work (make something, usually for a specific function)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mold"):

press; press out (press from a plastic)

recast; remold; remould (cast again)

sand cast (pour molten metal into a mold of sand)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

mold (container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens)

mold (sculpture produced by molding)

mold (the distinctive form in which a thing is made)

moldable (capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material))

molding (the act of creating something by casting it in a mold)

molding (sculpture produced by molding)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make something, usually for a specific function

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work

Context example:

Work the metal into a sword

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

create from raw material; create from raw stuff (make from scratch)

Verb group:

process; work; work on (shape, form, or improve a material)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mold"):

chip (form by chipping)

model; mold; mould (form in clay, wax, etc)

sculpt; sculpture (create by shaping stone or wood or any other hard material)

coil; hand-build; handbuild (make without a potter's wheel)

throw (make on a potter's wheel)

cast; mold; mould (form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold)

sinter (cause (ores or powdery metals) to become a coherent mass by heating without melting)

remold; reshape (shape again or shape differently)

roughcast (shape roughly)

hill (form into a hill)

mound (form into a rounded elevation)

preform (form into a shape resembling the final, desired one)

preform (form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand)

beat (shape by beating)

puddle (subject to puddling or form by puddling)

stamp (form or cut out with a mold, form, or die)

grind (shape or form by grinding)

machine (turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery)

cut out (form and create by cutting out)

layer (make or form a layer)

swage; upset (form metals with a swage)

carve (form by carving)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

mold (the distinctive form in which a thing is made)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Fit tightly, follow the contours of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The dress molds her beautiful figure

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

adhere; cleave; cling; cohere; stick (come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Shape or influence; give direction to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

determine; influence; mold; regulate; shape

Context example:

mold public opinion

Hypernyms (to "mold" is one way to...):

cause; do; make (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mold"):

reshape (shape anew or differently)

predetermine (determine beforehand)

pace (regulate or set the pace of)

index (adjust through indexation)

time (set the speed, duration, or execution of)

decide (influence or determine)

carry weight (have influence to a specified degree)

miscreate (shape or form or make badly)

disincline; indispose (make unwilling)

dispose; incline (make receptive or willing towards an action or attitude or belief)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

 Context examples 

Allergic disorders occur when the immune system overreacts to substances that are usually not harmful, such as pollen, molds, and certain foods.

(Immune system disorder, NCI Dictionary)

In allergies, exposure to mold, pollen or dust may trigger sneezing, watery eyes, and coughing.

(Initiator, NCI Dictionary)

Other causes include autoimmune diseases or occupational exposures to molds, gases, or fumes.

(Interstitial Lung Diseases, NIH)

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus (or mold) called Histoplasma.

(Histoplasmosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are examples.

(Fungus, NCI Dictionary)

I may yet show you how a great mind molds all Nature to its use.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Testing the device for the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi (yeasts and molds).

(Device Microbial Contamination Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

Some molds can cause disease in humans.

(Mold, NCI Dictionary)

Examples include pollen, molds, and certain foods.

(Allergen, NCI Dictionary)

In addition, mold exposure may irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

(Molds, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)