Definition: mold

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

mold
     n 1: the distinctive form in which a thing is made; "pottery of
          this cast was found throughout the region" [syn: cast,
           stamp]
     2: container into which liquid is poured to create a given
        shape when it hardens [syn: mould, cast]
     3: loose soil rich in organic matter [syn: mould]
     4: the process of becoming mildewed [syn: mildew]
     5: a fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds
        of damp or decaying organic matter [syn: mould]
     6: sculpture produced by molding [syn: mould, molding, moulding,
         modeling, clay sculpture]
     v 1: form in clay, wax, etc; "model a head with clay" [syn: model,
           mould]
     2: become moldy; spoil due to humidity; "The furniture molded
        in the old house" [syn: mildew]
     3: form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or
        mold; "cast a bronze sculpture" [syn: cast, mould]
     4: make something, usually for a specific function; "She molded
        the riceballs carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough";
        "shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword" [syn: shape,
         form, work, mould, forge]
     5: fit tightly, follow the contours of; "The dress molds her
        beautiful figure"
     6: shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often
        determines ability"; "mold public opinion" [syn: determine,
         shape, influence, regulate]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Molded or
   Moulded; p. pr. & vb. n. Molding or Moulding.]
   To cover with mold or soil. [R.]
Mold \Mold\, n. [See Mo?? a spot.]
   A spot; a blemish; a mole. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, n. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D.
   mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld,
   Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf.
   Mole an animal, Mull, v.] [The prevalent spelling is,
   perhaps, mould; but as the u has not been inserted in the
   other words of this class, as bold, gold, old, cold, etc., it
   seems desirable to complete the analogy by dropping it from
   this word, thus spelling it as Spenser, South, and many
   others did. The omission of the u is now very common in
   America.]
   1. Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the
      remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to
      the growth of plants; soil.

   2. Earthy material; the matter of which anything is formed;
      composing substance; material.

            The etherial mold, Incapable of stain. --Milton.

            Nature formed me of her softest mold. --Addison.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, n. [From the p. p. of OE. moulen to
   become moldy, to rot, prob. fr. Icel. mygla to grow musty,
   mugga mugginess; cf. Sw. m["o]gla to grow moldy. See Muggy,
   and cf. Moldy.] (Bot.)
   A growth of minute fungi of various kinds, esp. those of the
   great groups Hyphomycetes, and Physomycetes, forming on
   damp or decaying organic matter.

   Note: The common blue mold of cheese, the brick-red cheese
         mold, and the scarlet or orange strata which grow on
         tubers or roots stored up for use, when commencing to
         decay, are familiar examples. --M. J. Berkley.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, v. t. [Cf. F. mouler, OF. moler,
   moller. See Mold the matrix.]
   1. To form into a particular shape; to shape; to model; to
      fashion.

            He forgeth and moldeth metals.        --Sir M. Hale.

            Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mold me
            man?                                  --Milton.

   2. To ornament by molding or carving the material of; as, a
      molded window jamb.

   3. To knead; as, to mold dough or bread.

   4. (Founding) To form a mold of, as in sand, in which a
      casting may be made.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, v. t.
   To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, v. i.
   To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in
   part, with a mold.
Mold \Mold\, Mould \Mould\, n. [OE. molde, OF. mole, F. moule,
   fr. L. modulus. See Model.] [For spelling, see 2d Mold,
   above.]
   1. The matrix, or cavity, in which anything is shaped, and
      from which it takes its form; also, the body or mass
      containing the cavity; as, a sand mold; a jelly mold.
      --Milton.

   2. That on which, or in accordance with which, anything is
      modeled or formed; anything which serves to regulate the
      size, form, etc., as the pattern or templet used by a
      shipbuilder, carpenter, or mason.

            The glass of fashion and the mold of form. --Shak.

   3. Cast; form; shape; character.

            Crowned with an architrave of antique mold. --Pope.

   4. (Arch.) A group of moldings; as, the arch mold of a porch
      or doorway; the pier mold of a Gothic pier, meaning the
      whole profile, section, or combination of parts.

   5. (Anat.) A fontanel.

   6. (Paper Making) A frame with a wire cloth bottom, on which
      the pump is drained to form a sheet, in making paper by
      hand.