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unfold - 6 dictionary results

un⋅fold

  [uhn-fohld]
Use unfold in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to bring out of a folded state; spread or open out: Unfold your arms.
2. to spread out or lay open to view.
3. to reveal or display.
4. to reveal or disclose in words, esp. by careful or systematic exposition; set forth; explain.
–verb (used without object)
5. to become unfolded; open.
6. to develop.
7. to become clear, apparent, or known: The protagonist's character unfolds as the story reaches its climax.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME unfolden, OE unfealdan; c. G entfalten. See un- 2 , fold 1

Related forms:
un⋅fold⋅a⋅ble, adjective
un⋅fold⋅er, noun
un⋅fold⋅ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To unfold
un·fold   (ŭn-fōld')   
v.   un·fold·ed, un·fold·ing, un·folds

v.   tr.
  1. To open and spread out (something folded); extend.
  2. To remove the coverings from; disclose to view.
  3. To reveal gradually by written or spoken explanation; make known.
v.   intr.
    1. To become spread out; open out: Spring flowers unfolded everywhere.
    2. To develop, as if by spreading out: A brilliant career unfolded.
  2. To be revealed gradually to the understanding: A solution to the problem unfolded as they spoke.
un·fold'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Unfold

Un*fold"\, v. t. [AS. unfealdan. See 1st Un-, and Fold, v. t.]

1. To open the folds of; to expand; to spread out; as, to unfold a tablecloth.

Unfold thy forehead gathered into frowns. --Herbert.

2. To open, as anything covered or close; to lay open to view or contemplation; to bring out in all the details, or by successive development; to display; to disclose; to reveal; to elucidate; to explain; as, to unfold one's designs; to unfold the principles of a science.

Unfold the passion of my love. --Shak.

3. To release from a fold or pen; as, to unfold sheep.

Unfold

Un*fold"\, v. i. To open; to expand; to become disclosed or developed.

The wind blows cold While the morning doth unfold. --J. Fletcher.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : unfold
Spanish: desplegar,
German: entfalten,
Japanese: 広げる
More Translations »

unfold 
O.E. unfealdan, "to open or unwrap the folds of," also fig., "to disclose, reveal," from un- (2) + fold (v.). Cf. M.Du. ontvouden, Ger. entfalten. Refl. sense is attested from c.1374.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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unfold
inline

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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