Fourfold: meaning, definitions and examples

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fourfold

[ˈfɔːrfəʊld ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in mathematics

Consisting of four parts or members; four times as much or as many.

Synonyms

four times, quadruple.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
fourfold	This term is often used in more formal or technical contexts to indicate that something has increased or multiplied by four. It is common in academic, scientific, and financial texts. The company's profits have increased fourfold over the last decade. Our research showed a fourfold increase in the number of cases.
quadruple	This term is often used interchangeably with 'fourfold' but can be seen in both casual and formal contexts. It is also frequently used to emphasize the dramatic nature of an increase. The city’s population is expected to quadruple in the next 50 years. They managed to quadruple their investment in just five years.
four times	This phrase is more casual and commonly used in everyday speech to simply mean 'four instances' or 'multiplied by four'. It is less formal than 'fourfold' and can be used in various situations. I have visited this museum four times already. The recipe says you need to use four times the amount of water.

Word

Description / Examples

fourfold

This term is often used in more formal or technical contexts to indicate that something has increased or multiplied by four. It is common in academic, scientific, and financial texts.

The company's profits have increased fourfold over the last decade.
Our research showed a fourfold increase in the number of cases.

quadruple

This term is often used interchangeably with 'fourfold' but can be seen in both casual and formal contexts. It is also frequently used to emphasize the dramatic nature of an increase.

The city’s population is expected to quadruple in the next 50 years.
They managed to quadruple their investment in just five years.

four times

This phrase is more casual and commonly used in everyday speech to simply mean 'four instances' or 'multiplied by four'. It is less formal than 'fourfold' and can be used in various situations.

I have visited this museum four times already.
The recipe says you need to use four times the amount of water.

Examples of usage

The fourfold symmetry of the crystal structure was clearly visible under the microscope.
The company experienced a fourfold increase in profits over the last quarter.
The team managed to achieve a fourfold improvement in productivity after implementing the new strategy.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

in religion

To a quadruple extent or degree; four times.

Synonyms

four times, quadruple.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
fourfold	This term is frequently used in more formal or technical contexts, such as finance, statistics, or academic writing. It emphasizes a multiplication by four. The company's profits increased fourfold over the past year. There was a fourfold rise in the number of cases reported.
four times	This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation and informal writing. It is straightforward and easy to understand, signifying something happens or exists four instances. I called you four times, but you didn't answer. She can lift weights that are four times heavier than before.
quadruple	Often employed in scientific, mathematical, or financial contexts, this term means to multiply something by four. It tends to sound more technical. The recipe calls for us to quadruple the amount of sugar. Their investment has quadrupled over the last decade.

Word

Description / Examples

fourfold

This term is frequently used in more formal or technical contexts, such as finance, statistics, or academic writing. It emphasizes a multiplication by four.

The company's profits increased fourfold over the past year.
There was a fourfold rise in the number of cases reported.

four times

This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation and informal writing. It is straightforward and easy to understand, signifying something happens or exists four instances.

I called you four times, but you didn't answer.
She can lift weights that are four times heavier than before.

quadruple

Often employed in scientific, mathematical, or financial contexts, this term means to multiply something by four. It tends to sound more technical.

The recipe calls for us to quadruple the amount of sugar.
Their investment has quadrupled over the last decade.

Examples of usage

She vowed to dedicate herself fourfold to her faith after the life-changing experience.
The monk meditated fourfold longer than usual in search of enlightenment.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Old English, combining 'four' with 'fold', where 'fold' indicates layers or times.
In various languages, similar constructions exist, showcasing the intuitive use of numbers in language to express multiplicity.

Mathematics

In math, multiplying any number by 4 results in a fourfold quantity, such as 2 multiplied gives 8.
The concept of fourfold can be represented in geometry, like a square being composed of four smaller squares.

Cultural Usage

In literature, 'fourfold' often symbolizes completeness, reflecting how many cultures relate the number four to stability (like the four seasons).
The term sometimes appears in speeches, notably in religious texts, to emphasize the totality of a point.

Pop Culture

In movies and books, characters sometimes deal with 'fourfold' challenges or truths, emphasizing the complexity and depth of situations they face.
Some famous sayings leverage the idea of fourfold, such as referring to four main virtues or four parts of a journey.

Science

In biology, fourfold symmetry can be found, such as in the arrangement of petals in some flowers star-shaped flowers.
In physics, certain phenomena exhibit fourfold patterns, like the four fundamental forces that interact in the universe.

Translations

Translations of the word "fourfold" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quadruplo

🇮🇳 चार गुना

🇩🇪 vierfach

🇮🇩 empat kali lipat

🇺🇦 вчетверо

🇵🇱 czterokrotnie

🇯🇵 四倍

🇫🇷 quadruple

🇪🇸 cuádruple

🇹🇷 dört kat

🇰🇷 네 배

🇸🇦 أربعة أضعاف

🇨🇿 čtyřnásobný

🇸🇰 štvornásobný

🇨🇳 四倍

🇸🇮 štirikrat

🇮🇸 fjórfalt

🇰🇿 төрт есе

🇬🇪 ოთხჯერ

🇦🇿 dörd qat

🇲🇽 cuádruple

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,624, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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