mold

A soft green, white, or black growth that appears on food or damp surfaces.

• There is mold on the bread.
• We found black mold behind the cupboard.
• Damp rooms can encourage mold to grow.

How to use it: mold on something (There is mold on the bathroom wall.)

Similar words: mould, fungal growth

Common phrases: black mold, mold growth, mold on something

A hollow container that gives a liquid or soft material its shape as it becomes solid.

• Pour the chocolate into the mold.
• She removed the cake from its mold.
• These molds are used to make plastic toys.

Similar words: mould, form

Common phrases: chocolate mold, silicone mold, fill a mold

A particular type of person or thing, especially one similar to others.

• He does not fit the usual mold.
• They wanted a hero in the mold of old film stars.
• Her latest novel breaks the mold.

How to use it: in the mold of someone/something (She is a leader in the mold of her grandfather.)

Similar words: type, pattern, model

Common phrases: in the mold, break the mold, traditional mold

A frame or model that material is placed around or over to give it a shape.

• He stretched the leather over a wooden mold.
• The hat took shape around the mold.
• They built the boat’s curved sides on large molds.

Similar words: mould, form, model

Common phrases: wooden mold, hat mold, shaping mold

The shape or pattern given to something by the form used to make it.

• The casting kept the mold of the original.
• Each copy repeats the same mold.
• The ornament preserves the mold of the carved pattern.

Similar words: mould, shape, pattern

Common phrases: original mold, same mold, mold of something

The overall shape or form of something.

• Her face had a delicate mold.
• The artist admired the graceful mold of his hands.
• Time had changed the mold of her features.

Similar words: form, shape

Common phrases: oval mold, delicate mold, mold of something

To press or work a soft material until it has the shape you want.

• Mold the dough into a ball.
• He molded a face from wet clay.
• Can you mold the sand into a castle?

How to use it: mold something into something (She molded the clay into a small bowl.)

Similar words: shape, form, mould

Common phrases: mold clay, mold into something, mold by hand

To make an object by putting liquid or soft material into a shaped container.

• The factory molds plastic toys.
• They molded the handles from rubber.
• These chocolate animals were molded by hand.

Similar words: mould, cast

Common phrases: mold plastic, mold chocolate, mold something