overfold

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UK/ˈəʊvəfəʊld/

noun

A fold whereby the strata are forced through an angle of more than 90 degrees, so that younger strata lie below older ones.

OriginGerman Überfaltung →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounoverfold (plural overfolds)

plural overfolds

  1. geographyA fold whereby the strata are forced through an angle of more than 90 degrees, so that younger strata lie below older ones.

    Thrusts were directed there; major overfolds bulged outwards towards the north.

    2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 95
verboverfold (third-person singular simple present overfolds, present participle overfolding, simple past and past participle overfolded)

present singular third person overfolds · participle present overfolding · participle past overfolded · past overfolded

  1. transitiveTo fold excessively.

    The trick is to not overfold the ingredients; doing so causes the egg whites to deflate, resulting in a flat or soggy soufflé.

    2012, Culture Magazine, Cheese For Dummies, page 305

Origin

  1. GermanÜberfaltung“overfolding”
  2. Englishoverfold

From over- + fold; in the geological sense, after German Überfaltung (“overfolding”).

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

foldover
Cite this entry
APA

overfold. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overfold

MLA

“overfold.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overfold. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overfold,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overfold.

Source: overfold on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.