What does infold mean?
Infold is a comparatively uncommon verb meaning to fold something inward, bringing an edge, flap, sheet, or other part into the body or center of something. A petal may infold as a flower closes, and a membrane may be described as infolded when it turns inward. The related noun names an inward fold itself. Although its meaning is straightforward, infold is chiefly encountered in formal, descriptive, scientific, or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Its vocabulary relatives—fold, enfold, and unfold—make its direction of action especially clear: in- indicates movement into or toward the inside, whereas un- marks reversal. Infold is therefore useful when precision about inward motion matters, especially when describing tissue, membranes, petals, fabric, or other structures that turn or are folded toward their centers. Compared with the general verb fold, infold adds this explicit directional nuance; compared with unfold, it describes the opposite motion.
To fold or turn something inward; to fold something in.
"The petal infolds toward the center as the flower begins to close."
Usually transitive and relatively uncommon, with a formal or descriptive register.
An inward fold in a surface, material, or anatomical structure.
"Several deep infolds formed shadowed lines along the material."
This noun is rare and is more likely to appear in specialized or literary writing than in everyday speech.
The standard plural is infolds, though the noun itself is uncommon.
"The design incorporates several deep infolds to create shadows."
Infold captures the inward motion of a closing flower: the same basic action as folding, but directed toward the center.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infold come from?
The compound was formed within English by combining the prefix in- with fold. The prefix in- means “into” or “inward,” while fold descends from the Old English verb faldan. Modern relatives include enfold and unfold, while fold preserves the same older Germanic verbal root.
Related word forms
How infold is actually used
Relatively uncommon. The verb is generally transitive and often appears in formal, descriptive, scientific, or literary writing; the noun is rarer still.
Easily confused with infold
Infold describes folding or turning inward, whereas unfold means opening or extending outward.