Homonym: Fold (Bend)
Fold is a term that refers to the act of bending or laying one part of an object over another. This can apply to various materials, such as paper, fabric, or even geological formations. In everyday life, folding is commonly used in tasks like organizing clothes or creating origami, which is the art of paper folding.
In a scientific context, folding can describe the process by which proteins assume their functional shapes. Proper protein folding is crucial for biological functions, as misfolded proteins can lead to diseases. Understanding protein folding is essential in fields like biochemistry and molecular biology.