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Glite Dictionary
🗺️ To make compact 🏚️ To close down
to fold up

to fold up

6 3.0
Bend something, like a map or blanket, so it becomes small for storage
  • phrasal verb
  • /foʊld ʌp/
translation icon : plegar
  • The instructions explain that we should fold up the map so it fits in our pocket.
  • folded up the paper
  • folded up the blanket
  • folded up the map

They're like these long ribbons of amino acids and the way that they fold up determines their function.

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Examples

  • After reading the letter a second time, Froyle folded it up and put it in his pocket.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • It's supposed to fold up into that bag so you can transport it easily.

  • OK, and how does it know how to fold up into the shape?

  • Now we fold up one side.

    Multiplicity (1996)

  • Now, fold up that canvas.

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

  • I mean, it's still pretty big, but considering that you can fold this up quite small, I'm impressed.

  • Field cameras offer somewhat restricted movements, but they fold up for easy transportation.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Done with lunch, I fold up the wax paper for reuse, bag it, then push off from the tree.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Grandpa folded up the umbrella and laid it on the sand, just to be sure.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • It's also extremely light and can be folded up and carried around the backcountry in a backpack.

    Blog text (29)

Synonyms

to fold
vsto fold up
220 1.0

Bend something so one part lies on top of another

is mainly about making things compact for storage instead of simple bending
to collapse
vsto fold up
48 3.5

To fold something so it takes less space

focuses on arranging items for easier storage rather than only closing
to turn up
vsto fold up
42 2.8

To fold up the edge of clothes so it covers part of them

is used more broadly for arranging items to save space not just edges

Antonyms

to expand
805 2.5

To grow larger in size, amount, or importance

to unfold
39 1.3

Open something that is folded so it becomes flat

How Compact

to compress
94 3.7
to pack
655 1.0
to fold up
6 3.0
to fold
220 1.0
to bend
268 1.0

Surface Forms

fold up infinitive
folded up past
folded up past participle
folding up present participle
folds up third person singular

Morphology

fold + up

The meaning 'to close down' is a metaphorical extension of the literal image of 'fold' (pack/collapse) combined with 'up' (completion), so a learner who knows both words can often infer a sense like 'pack away/stop operating'. However, the conventionalized business sense 'go out of business' is somewhat specialized and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Fold up comes from the simple picture of fold and up: you bend something and fold it into a smaller, neat shape. So, fold up means 'to bend or collapse something so it is easier to store'.