[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/mould/)

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# mould

noun (mould / mold, uncountable for the fungus; a mould, moulds for shapes); verb (mould, moulds, moulded, moulding)

«mould» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Mould is a soft, furry growth, often green, white, blue or black, that grows on old food or damp walls; it is a kind of fungus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#m1)
2. A mould is a hollow container that you pour a liquid into so it sets in that shape, like a jelly mould. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#m2)
3. To mould means to press or shape something soft, like clay, into a shape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#m3)
4. To mould someone means to influence how they grow up and become. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science lessons: mould is a living thing (a fungus) that grows from tiny spores, likes warm, damp places and helps break down dead things; children watch bread go mouldy as an experiment. Safety: never eat mouldy food and don't sniff mould, because it can make you ill; damp, mouldy rooms are bad for breathing. In art: moulding clay and using moulds. Penicillin, a medicine, was found in a mould. Phrases: «covered in mould», «mouldy bread», «jelly mould», «break the mould» (do something new).

### Examples

- The bread was covered in green mould. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x1)
- Don't eat food with mould on it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x2)
- We watched mould grow on bread for our science experiment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x3)
- Mould grows in warm, damp places. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x4)
- Pour the jelly into the mould and let it set. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x5)
- She moulded the clay into a little bowl. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x6)
- Penicillin was discovered in a mould. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x7)
- Open a window to stop mould growing in the bathroom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x8)
- "It is really necessary that I should mould the clay myself," he replied. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/#x9)

### Note

Spelling: «mould» (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada) and «mold» (US). Adjective: «mouldy / moldy». Mould is a fungus, like mushrooms, not a plant. Cutting mould off soft food does not make it safe, because mould grows roots inside.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mould» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mould/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mould» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mould.html) on Mova free.