1. Make something, usually for a specific function
   "She molded the rice balls carefully";
   - shape, form, work, mould [Brit, Cdn], forge
    
2. Form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold
   "mold a bronze sculpture";
   - cast, mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
3. Form in clay, wax, etc
   "mold a head with clay";
   - model, mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
4. Give direction to; be an influence on
   "mold public opinion";
   - determine, shape, influence, regulate, mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
5. Fit tightly, follow the contours of
   "the dress molds to her beautiful figure";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
6. Become moldy; spoil due to humidity
   "The furniture molded in the old house";
   - mildew, mould [Brit, Cdn]

1. The distinctive form in which a thing is made
   "pottery of this mold was found throughout the region";
   - cast, mould [Brit, Cdn], stamp
    
2. Container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens
   "She poured the melted chocolate into a mold shaped like a heart";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn], cast
    
3. A distinctive nature, character, or type
   "a leader in the mold of her predecessors";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
4. Sculpture produced by molding
   "The artist's mold captured the subject's likeness with remarkable detail";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn], molding [N. Amer], moulding [Brit, Cdn], modeling [US], clay sculpture, modelling [Brit, Cdn]
    
5. A dish or dessert that is formed in or on a mold
   "a lobster mold"; "a gelatin dessert made in a mold";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
6. A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter
   "Mold grew on the bread left in the damp pantry";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
7. The process of becoming mildewed
   "Mold appeared on the walls due to poor ventilation";
   - mildew, mould [Brit, Cdn]
    
8. Loose soil rich in organic matter
   "The gardener added mold to improve the soil's fertility";
   - mould [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: molded, molding, molds

Type of: adhere, afters [Brit, informal], cause, change, cleave, cling, cohere, container, dessert, dirt, dish, do, earmark, engender, fungus, hallmark, make, make from scratch, sculpture, soil, solid, spoilage, stick, stylemark, sweet [Brit], trademark

Encyclopedia: Mold, Wales