folding doors

The folding doors open to reveal a bright sunroom.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • A type of door consisting of two or more vertical panels that are hinged together, allowing the door to be folded back against itself or into a compact space when opened.
   • Often used to divide rooms or create flexible openings, such as between a living area and a patio.

Usage Examples

• (The doors fold to allow both rooms to be open or closed as needed.)
• (The doors are designed to fold rather than swing open.)
• (The doors were folded back to create a seamless indoor-outdoor space.)

Advanced Usage

• "to fold away" (related to folding doors): to collapse or close the doors into a compact position.
  • After the event, we folded away the folding doors to clear the room. (We collapsed the doors into their storage position.)

Variants and Related Words

• Folding door (singular): one unit of a folding door system.
  • The left folding door is stuck. (One panel of the door system is not working.)
• Bi-fold door (n): a specific type of folding door with two panels that fold together.
  • The closet uses bi-fold doors to save space. (The door has two hinged panels.)

Synonyms

• Accordion door: a door that folds like an accordion, often made of flexible material.
• French doors (not a direct synonym): a pair of hinged doors that swing open, not fold (distinct from folding doors).

Related Idioms

• "fold like a deck of cards": to collapse or give way easily, sometimes used metaphorically for folding doors.
  • The old folding doors folded like a deck of cards when pushed. (The doors collapsed easily due to poor construction.)

Phrasal Verbs (for the verb "fold" as related to these doors)

• Fold up: to collapse or close the doors into a smaller shape.
  • We need to fold up the folding doors before moving the furniture. (Collapse the doors into their storage position.)