Plication

//plɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An act of folding. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    the act of folding in parallel folds wordnet
  3. 3
    A fold or pleat. countable, uncountable

    "But the recognition of nappes set out the research project: you need not simply throw up your hands in despair at perverse plications and ceaseless crenelations in the Alps."

  4. 4
    an angular or rounded shape made by folding wordnet
  5. 5
    A surgical procedure in which a body part is strengthened or shortened by pulling together folds of excess material, and suturing them into place. countable, uncountable

Example

More examples

"But the recognition of nappes set out the research project: you need not simply throw up your hands in despair at perverse plications and ceaseless crenelations in the Alps."

Etymology

From Middle French plicacion, and its source, Latin plicatio.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.