General:
* Pleat: This is a common synonym, especially for fabric.
* Crease: This implies a sharper, more permanent fold.
* Fold: This is a direct synonym but might not be as descriptive as other options.
* Wrinkle: This implies a less intentional and more haphazard fold.
* Ruffled: This describes a specific type of fold, often used with fabrics like curtains or skirts.
* Gather: This is used to describe a fabric that is pulled together to create folds, often in a circular fashion.
More specific:
* Accordion: This describes a series of even folds.
* Concertina: Similar to accordion, but with a more specific pattern of folds.
* Pleat, tuck, or gather can be used to describe specific types of folds in fabric.
Figurative language:
* Compress: This implies a process of shrinking or reducing.
* Contract: This suggests a movement inwards.
* Condense: This implies a process of making something denser.
The best choice will depend on the context and the specific type of folding you want to describe.