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Mold vs. Mould — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 24, 2024
Mold (US) refers to fungi that grow in multicellular structures, while mould (UK) is the same entity spelled differently, while both terms also mean a form used for shaping materials.
Mold vs. Mould — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Mold and Mould

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Key Differences

Mold is the American English spelling for a type of fungus that grows in moist, warm conditions, forming multicellular filaments called hyphae. Whereas, mould is the British English equivalent, used in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations, indicating the same natural phenomenon.
Mold is not only a biological term but also applies to a hollow container or matrix for shaping materials such as plastic, glass, or metal. On the other hand, mould serves the same purpose in British English, utilized in various manufacturing processes to create a diverse range of products.
In the culinary context, Americans use "mold" to describe a container used to shape food items like gelatin or chocolate. Conversely, British English speakers would refer to the same kitchen tool as a "mould."
In American English, mold is also a verb meaning to shape something, particularly in the context of forming character or behavior. In contrast, in British English, mould is used similarly, emphasizing the influence on personality or growth through various experiences.
Regarding idiomatic usage, Americans might say "break the mold" to describe doing something in an unconventional way. Whereas, Britons would spell this phrase as "break the mould," maintaining the meaning but reflecting the British spelling tradition.
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Comparison Chart

Spelling

Mold
Mould

Usage in industries

Used in American industries
Used in British and Commonwealth industries

Culinary tool

Referred to as "mold"
Referred to as "mould"

Verb usage

To mold: to shape or influence
To mould: to shape or influence

Idiomatic expression

"Break the mold": do something unconventional
"Break the mould": do something unconventional

Compare with Definitions

Mold

Fungi.
The cheese was covered in green mold due to being left out.

Mould

Container for shaping.
He used a mould to create the perfect ice sculpture.

Mold

Container for shaping.
She poured the liquid chocolate into the mold.

Mould

Fungi.
The bread in the cupboard has developed some mould on it.

Mold

To influence.
His mentor helped mold his career in science.

Mould

Soil richness indicator.
Mould is often found in fertile gardening soil.

Mold

Decay or degrade.
The old book's pages had begun to mold.

Mould

Decay or degrade.
The wet weather caused the wooden frames to mould.

Mold

Soil richness indicator.
Mold can indicate rich organic material in soil.

Mould

To influence.
Her early experiences moulded her into a strong, independent woman.

Mold

A mold (US) or mould (UK, NZ, AU, ZA, IN, CA, IE) is a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. In contrast, fungi that can adopt a single-celled growth habit are called yeasts.

Mould

A hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material when it cools and hardens
A jelly mould
The smith would pour the molten metal into the shaped mould

Mold

A town in north-eastern Wales, administrative centre of Flintshire; population 10,500 (est. 2009).

Mould

A distinctive and typical style, form, or character
He's a superb striker in the same mould as Gary Lineker
He planned to conquer the world as a roving reporter in the mould of his hero

Mold

A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance.

Mould

A frame or template for producing mouldings
All the moulds, masters or originals, had been kept for reference

Mold

A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped.

Mould

A furry growth of minute fungi occurring typically in moist warm conditions, especially on food or other organic matter
Moist food becomes covered with moulds
Mould may flourish unhindered

Mold

Something that is made in or shaped on a mold.

Mould

Soft loose earth
The ground was soft and damp, with old leaves thick in the mould

Mold

The shape or pattern of a mold.

Mould

Form (an object) out of malleable material
Mould the figure from white fondant

Mold

General shape or form
The oval mold of her face.

Mould

(of a column, ceiling, or other part of a building) having a decorative moulding
A corridor with a moulded cornice

Mold

Distinctive character or type
A leader in the mold of her predecessors.

Mould

Variant of mold1.

Mold

A fixed or restrictive pattern or form
A method of scientific investigation that broke the mold and led to a new discovery.

Mould

Variant of mold2.

Mold

(Architecture) See molding.

Mould

Variant of mold3.

Mold

Any of various filamentous fungi that grow on and contribute to the decay of organic matter.

Mould

Standard spelling of from2=Canadian form

Mold

A growth of such fungi.

Mould

Alternative spelling of mold

Mold

Any of various other saprophytic or parasitic organisms that resemble fungi, such as slime molds or water molds.

Mould

Alternative spelling of mold#Etymology_3

Mold

Loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting.

Mould

Standard spelling of from2=Canadian form

Mold

The earth; the ground.

Mould

Alternative spelling of mold

Mold

The earth of the grave.

Mould

See Mold, Molder, Moldy, etc.

Mold

(Archaic) Earth as the substance of the human body.

Mould

Loose soil rich in organic matter

Mold

To form (something) out of a fluid or plastic material
Molded a cup out of clay.

Mould

A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter

Mold

To form into a particular shape; give shape to
Molded the clay into a ball.

Mould

Sculpture produced by molding

Mold

To guide or determine the growth or development of; influence
A teacher who helps to mold the minds of his students.

Mould

Container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens

Mold

To fit closely by following the contours of (the body). Used of clothing.

Mould

Form in clay, wax, etc;
Model a head with clay

Mold

To assume a certain shape
Shoes that gradually molded to my feet.

Mould

Form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold;
Cast a bronze sculpture

Mold

To become moldy.

Mould

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

Mold

A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance.

Mold

A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped.

Mold

Something that is made in or shaped on a mold.

Mold

The shape or pattern of a mold.

Mold

General shape or form.
The oval mold of her face

Mold

Distinctive character or type.
A leader in the mold of her predecessors

Mold

A fixed or restrictive pattern or form.
His method of scientific investigation broke the mold and led to a new discovery.

Mold

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

Mold

(anatomy) A fontanelle.

Mold

A natural substance in the form of a woolly or furry growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air.

Mold

A fungus that creates such colored, furry growths.

Mold

Loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting.

Mold

Earth, ground.

Mold

The top or crown of the head.

Mold

(transitive) To shape in or on a mold; to form into a particular shape; to give shape to.

Mold

(transitive) To guide or determine the growth or development of; influence

Mold

(transitive) To fit closely by following the contours of.

Mold

(transitive) To make a mold of or from (molten metal, for example) before casting.

Mold

(transitive) To ornament with moldings.

Mold

(intransitive) To be shaped in or as if in a mold.
These shoes gradually molded to my feet.

Mold

(transitive) To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.

Mold

(intransitive) To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.

Mold

To cover with mold or soil.

Mold

A spot; a blemish; a mole.

Mold

Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil.

Mold

Earthy material; the matter of which anything is formed; composing substance; material.
The etherial mold,Incapable of stain.
Nature formed me of her softest mold.

Mold

A growth of minute fungi of various kinds, esp. those of the great groups Hyphomycetes, and Physomycetes, forming on damp or decaying organic matter.

Mold

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.

Mold

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.

Mold

Cast; form; shape; character.
Crowned with an architrave of antique mold.

Mold

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.

Mold

A fontanel.

Mold

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

Mold

To cover with mold or soil.

Mold

To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.

Mold

To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.

Mold

To form into a particular shape; to shape; to model; to fashion.
He forgeth and moldeth metals.
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clayTo mold me man?

Mold

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

Mold

To knead; as, to mold dough or bread.

Mold

To form a mold of, as in sand, in which a casting may be made.

Mold

The distinctive form in which a thing is made;
Pottery of this cast was found throughout the region

Mold

Container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens

Mold

Loose soil rich in organic matter

Mold

The process of becoming mildewed

Mold

A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter

Mold

Sculpture produced by molding

Mold

Form in clay, wax, etc;
Model a head with clay

Mold

Become moldy; spoil due to humidity;
The furniture molded in the old house

Mold

Form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold;
Cast a bronze sculpture

Mold

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

Mold

Fit tightly, follow the contours of;
The dress molds her beautiful figure

Mold

Shape or influence; give direction to;
Experience often determines ability
Mold public opinion

Common Curiosities

Can mould be beneficial?

Yes, some moulds are beneficial for making antibiotics like penicillin or used in food production, like cheese.

What is mould?

Mould is the British spelling for mold, referring to the same type of fungi.

How does mold affect health?

Mold can cause allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and other health problems when inhaled.

Is mold dangerous in homes?

Yes, indoor mold growth can lead to health issues and damage to materials, requiring remediation.

What does it mean to mold someone’s character?

To mold someone’s character means to shape or influence their development and personality traits.

Why are there two different spellings for mold/mould?

The different spellings result from variations in American and British English.

What is mold?

Mold is a fungus that grows in multicellular filaments called hyphae, thriving in moist environments.

How can mould be removed?

Mould can be removed with cleaning solutions like bleach and water, and by controlling humidity in the environment.

What does the phrase 'break the mould' mean?

It means to do something innovative or unconventional, different from the norm.

Can mold be used in cooking?

Yes, mold is used in cooking, particularly as a description for a shaping container.

Are mold and mould pronounced the same?

Yes, both words are pronounced the same way despite the different spellings.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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