Meaning & use
epicanthic fold
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalmedicalbiology
A small fold of skin that covers the inner corner of the upper eyelid, common in many East Asian and some other populations.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an epicanthic fold' or 'epicanthic folds'.
Patterns
- have an epicanthic fold
- develop epicanthic folds
- the epicanthic fold is common in ...
The doctor explained that the epicanthic fold is a normal variation in eye shape.
In some populations, the epicanthic fold is very common and is not considered a medical condition.
The anatomy textbook includes a diagram of the epicanthic fold.
Word forms
| plural | epicanthic folds |
|---|
Common combinations
- epicanthic fold
- The epicanthic fold gives the eye a slightly different appearance.
- have an epicanthic fold
- Many people of East Asian descent have an epicanthic fold.
- prominent epicanthic fold
- A prominent epicanthic fold can make the eyes look almond-shaped.
Synonyms and how they differ
- epicanthus
- A more technical medical term for the same feature; used mainly in clinical contexts.
Word family
- epicanthic adjective
- Relating to the epicanthic fold.
Commonly confused: epicanthic fold or epicanthal?
epicanthic fold vs epicanthal
An alternative adjective form; 'epicanthic fold' is the standard noun phrase.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'epicanthic fold' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The epicanthic fold is a skin fold near the eye, so sentence An is correct. B is wrong because it is not a bone that can be broken, C is wrong because it is not in the hand, and D is wrong because it is a noun, not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “epicanthic fold”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.