unfold
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unfold
to become clear, apparent, or known: the mystery unfolds slowly; to spread or open out: unfold the blanket; to lay open to view; to set forth; explain; to develop
Not to be confused with:
enfold – to wrap up; envelop; to surround as if with folds: enfolded in mystery; embrace: enfolded in her lover’s arms
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
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: unfold a package.
3. To reveal gradually by written or spoken explanation; make known: "He unfolded his tale of woe: the descriptions of poverty and the great distance they had traveled, the abuses they had suffered, the injustice of it all" (Robert Rosenberg).
v.intr.
1.
a. To become spread out; open out: Spring flowers unfolded everywhere.
b. To develop or occur as a series of events or stages: "The trial unfolded in an imposing, high-ceilinged courtroom in Westminster Hall" (Adam Hochschild).
2. To be revealed gradually to the understanding: A solution to the problem unfolded as they spoke.
un·fold′ment n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
unfold
(ʌnˈfəʊld)vb
1. to open or spread out or be opened or spread out from a folded state
2. to reveal or be revealed: the truth unfolds.
3. to develop or expand or be developed or expanded
unˈfolder n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
un•fold
(ʌnˈfoʊld)v.t.
1. to bring out of a folded state; spread or open out.
2. to spread out or lay open to view.
3. to reveal or display.
4. to disclose in words, esp. by careful exposition; explain.
v.i. 5. to become unfolded; open.
6. to develop.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
unfold
Past participle: unfolded
Gerund: unfolding
| Imperative |
|---|
| unfold |
| unfold |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  unfold - develop or come to a promising stage; "Youth blossomed into maturity"develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time" |
| 2. |  unfold - open to the view; "A walk through town will unfold many interesting buildings" | |
| 3. |  unfold - extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length; "Unfold the newspaper"; "stretch out that piece of cloth"; "extend the TV antenna"extend - open or straighten out; unbend; "Can we extend the legs of this dining table?" | |
| 4. |  unfold - spread out or open from a closed or folded state; "open the map"; "spread your arms"undo - cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect; "I wish I could undo my actions" divaricate - spread apart; "divaricate one's fingers" exfoliate - spread by opening the leaves of grass - spread out clothes on the grass to let it dry and bleach butterfly - cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking; "butterflied shrimp" uncross - change from a crossed to an uncrossed position; "She uncrossed her legs" splay - spread open or apart; "He splayed his huge hands over the table" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
unfold
verb
1. develop, happen, progress, grow, emerge, occur, take place, expand, work out, mature, evolve, blossom, transpire, bear fruit The outcome depends on conditions as well as how events unfold.
2. reveal, tell, present, show, describe, explain, illustrate, disclose, uncover, clarify, divulge, narrate, make known Mr Wills unfolds his story with evident enjoyment.
3. open, spread out, undo, expand, flatten, straighten, stretch out, unfurl, unwrap, unroll He quickly unfolded the blankets and spread them on the mattress.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
unfold
verb1. To move or arrange so as to cover a larger area:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَكْشِف عنيَنْشُر، يَبْسُط
odhalitrozložit
afslørebrede ud
gera grein fyrir, koma smám saman í ljósopna, breiîa úr/út
atklātatklātiesatlocītatvērt
razgrnitirazprostreti
açıkla makaçmakanlaşılmak
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
unfold
[ˌʌnˈfəʊld] vt
[+ map, blanket, tablecloth, newspaper, chair] → déplier; [+ wings, arms] → déployer
She unfolded the map → Elle a déplié la carte.
She unfolded the map → Elle a déplié la carte.
[+ story, tale] → narrer
vi
[wings] → se déployer; [chair, map] → se déplier
(= develop) [events, facts] → se dérouler
(= be told) [story] → se dérouler
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
unfold
vt
paper, cloth → auseinanderfalten, entfalten; (= spread out) wings → ausbreiten; arms → lösen; chair, table → aufklappen, auseinanderklappen
(fig) story → entwickeln (→ to vor +dat); plans, ideas → entfalten, darlegen (→ to +dat); secret → enthüllen, eröffnen
vi (story, plot) → sich abwickeln; (truth) → an den Tag kommen, sich herausstellen; (view, personality, flower) → sich entfalten; (countryside) → sich ausbreiten
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
unfold
[ʌnˈfəʊld]1. vt (newspaper, map, wings) → spiegare, aprire; (arms) → distendere (fig) (plan, idea) → esporre; (secret) → svelare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
unfold
(anˈfəuld) verb1. to open and spread out (a map etc). He sat down and unfolded his newspaper.
2. to (cause to) be revealed or become known. She gradually unfolded her plan to them.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.