📄 Bending over 🧬 Shaping proteins ⛰️ Bending rocks 🪑 Can be folded

folding

7.7

The way rock layers bend and curve because of forces in the Earth

noun
/ˈfoʊldɪŋ/

Specialized

: plegamiento

In geology, folding refers to the process where rock layers are bent by tectonic forces.

Examples

The mountains are a result of the folding of the Earth's crust over millions of years.
Then we drop off towards towards Brazil through these areas that are that are forming these big folded crustal zones.
During the hike, we observed how folding created unique rock formations along the cliffs.

Synonyms

plication

vsfolding

Specialized

9.9

Folding something into even parallel folds for strength or during surgery

is about rock layers bending from crust stress rather than parallel-only patterns

infolding

vsfolding

Specialized

8.9

A surface that turns inward to form a small pocket

is about rock layers bending across the crust rather than forming inward pockets

Antonyms

flatness

3 2.9

A level area with hardly any hills

Compounds

folding chair

14 1.0

A chair that can be made flat so you can carry or store it easily

folding door

1 2.8

A door made of sections that bend back to open and save space

folding money

1 3.2

Paper money that people carry in a wallet

protein folding

Specialized

1 4.4

The way a protein takes the shape it needs to work

folding saw

4.0

A small portable saw with teeth on the blade that closes into its handle

How Folded

folding

Specialized

7.7

fold

84 2.4

Surface Forms

folding singular

foldings plural

Morphology

folding = fold (semi-transparent) = fold + ing

Built from 'fold' + '-ing' but used in geological contexts to describe bending of rock layers, a domain-specific sense that may not be derivable by all learners.

Etymology

The word folding comes from fold, meaning 'to bend'. That's why geologists call the bending of rock layers folding—it is like huge creases in the earth that can make mountains.