molding

1 of 2

noun

mold·​ing ˈmōl-diŋ How to pronounce molding (audio)
Synonyms of moldingnext
1
: an object produced by molding
2
a
: a decorative recessed or relieved surface
b
: a decorative plane or curved strip used for ornamentation or finishing

Illustration of molding

Illustration of molding
  • 1 fillet and fascia
  • 2 torus
  • 3 reeding
  • 4 cavetto
  • 5 scotia
  • 6 congé
  • 7 beak

molding

2 of 2

present participle of mold entry 2, mold entry 4

Examples of molding in a Sentence

Noun The house has beautiful moldings around its doors and windows.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Lyons recalled how Meyer and Davis transformed her own cantankerous vision — mushrooms beside saddles, faucets beside disco balls, moldings beside dog doors — into a cohesive design language. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Many of its original details, from formal entry galleries and large terraces to ornate moldings and herringbone floors, remain. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 To up the glamour, Goyal outlined the walls and windows in jet-black molding, lending the rooms a tuxedo-piping effect. — Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026 There are high coffered ceilings and hardwood floors and moldings galore. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for molding

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of molding was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing molding

Rhymes for molding

See All Rhymes for molding

Browse Nearby Words

moldiness
molding
molding book
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Molding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molding. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

molding

noun
mold·​ing ˈmōl-diŋ How to pronounce molding (audio)
1
a
: the act or work of a person who molds
b
: an object produced by molding
2
: a strip of material having a shaped surface and used as a decoration (as on a wall or the edge of a table)

Medical Definition

molding

noun
mold·​ing
variants or chiefly British moulding
ˈmōl-diŋ How to pronounce molding (audio)
: an act or process of molding
specifically : the shaping of the fetal head to allow it to pass through the birth canal during childbirth

More from Merriam-Webster on molding

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for molding

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about molding

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All