the style - appearance - and make-up of clothes

4. the fold singular a group of people with whom you feel you belong or who share the same ideas or beliefs
• He called on former Republican voters to return to the fold.

• She was determined to draw Matthew back into the family fold.

5. countable (geology) a curve or bend in the line of the layers of rock in the earth's crust

6. countable (BrE) a hollow place among hills or mountains
Word Origin:
v. and n. senses 1 to 2 n. senses 5 to 6 Old English falden fealden Germanic Dutch vouwen German falten
n. senses 3 to 4 Old English fald Germanic Dutch vaalt

Thesaurus:
fold noun C
• The fabric fell in soft folds.
• Why is the place I want to find always on the fold of the map?
wrinkle • • crease • • line •
a fold/crease in sth
a wrinkle/line on sth
a neat fold/crease
Fold or wrinkle? Fold is used more about fabric; wrinkle is used more about skin. Folds in fabric are tidy but wrinkles are unwanted. Wrinkles in skin are thin lines; folds are fatter and usually occur because sb is overweight.
Example Bank:
• His father finally accepted him back into the family fold.
• It was a solitary spot in a fold between two hills.
• She hid the note in a fold in her robe.
• The country is now firmly back in the international fold.
• The fabric fell in soft folds.
• The indigenous people were brought into the Catholic fold.
• The troops were hidden by the deep folds of the ground.
• a fold in the land
• billowing folds of clouds
• opposing viewpoints within the Anglican fold
• the heavy folds of his cloak
• the loose folds of flesh under her chin

• The child hid his face in the folds of his mother's skirt.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fold

[fo͟ʊld]
♦♦♦
folds, folding, folded
1) VERB If you fold something such as a piece of paper or cloth, you bend it so that one part covers another part, often pressing the edge so that it stays in place.
  [V n] He folded the paper carefully...
  [V n prep/adv] Fold the omelette in half...
  [V n prep/adv] Fold the blanket back.
  [V-ed] ...a folded towel.
2) N-COUNT A fold in a piece of paper or cloth is a bend that you make in it when you put one part of it over another part and press the edge.
  Make another fold and turn the ends together.
  Syn:
  crease
3) N-COUNT: usu pl The folds in a piece of cloth are the curved shapes which are formed when it is not hanging or lying flat.
  The priest fumbled in the folds of his gown.
4) V-ERG If a piece of furniture or equipment folds or if you can fold it, you can make it smaller by bending or closing parts of it.
  [V adv/prep] The back of the bench folds forward to make a table...
  [V adj] This portable seat folds flat for easy storage...
  [V n] Check if you can fold the buggy without having to remove the raincover.
  [V-ing] ...a folding beach chair. [Also V n adj]
PHR-V-ERG
Fold up means the same as fold. V P When not in use it folds up out of the way... V n P Fold the ironing board up so that it is flat.
5) VERB If you fold your arms or hands, you bring them together and cross or link them, for example over your chest.
  [V n] Meer folded his arms over his chest and turned his head away...
  [V n] Mrs Ringrose sat down and folded her hands in her lap.
6) VERB If a business or organization folds, it is unsuccessful and has to close. [mainly BRIT]
  But as other shops fold, the march of the superstores continues...
  2,500 small businesses were folding each week.
7) N-SING: the/poss N, usu the supp N When someone joins an organization or group, you can say that they have come into the fold. When they leave the organization or group, you can say that they leave the fold.
  The EC brought Spain, Greece and Portugal into the fold...
  He might find it difficult to return to the family fold even when he realizes his mistake.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - fold in
  - fold into
  - fold up