enfold

verb

en·​fold in-ˈfōld How to pronounce enfold (audio)
en-
enfolded; enfolding; enfolds

transitive verb

1
a
: to cover with or as if with folds : envelop
b
: to surround with a covering : contain
2
: to clasp within the arms : embrace

Examples of enfold in a Sentence

The dish is made of vegetables enfolded in a pastry crust. We watched as darkness enfolded the city.
Recent Examples on the Web Other lots will feature objects that, like sneakers, fall at the intersection of high fashion, pop culture and sports, such as a Louis Vuitton foosball table and a limited-edition sculpture Lady Gaga designed to enfold a bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne. The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Some 40 million miles of roadways girdle our planet, four million of which enfold the United States. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Gradually, the others enter to enfold her in a calming embrace. Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023 But as the sector weathers a steep decline and faces tough new scrutiny from the SEC, some of Wall Street’s biggest names are trying to enfold it. Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, 8 July 2023 So the experience of being acoustically enfolded is both a throwback and a promise. Curbed, 22 June 2023 His two Jack Ryan movies end with Ryan defeating specific villains without changing the corrupt institutions that enfold them, because that would be impossible. Vulture, 10 July 2023 His words and smiles enfolded me in his special circle, anointing me the adult among the kids, the big deal among the strugs. Tess McNulty, Harper's Magazine, 10 Aug. 2022 Fourteen guest rooms and a pair of apartments enfold a courtyard shaded by umbrella pines and a century-old Lebanon cedar. Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enfold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of enfold was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near enfold

Cite this Entry

“Enfold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enfold. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enfold

verb
en·​fold in-ˈfōld How to pronounce enfold (audio)
1
: to cover with folds : enclose in the folds of something
2

More from Merriam-Webster on enfold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!