unfold

Formsunfolds, unfolding, unfolded

Pluralunfolds

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To open something that was folded.

   Like opening a paper airplane back into a flat sheet.

   Please unfold the map so we can see the roads.

   She unfolded the letter and read it carefully.

   Similaropen, unfurl, spread

   Oppositefold

   Note
2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To open up after being folded.

   Like a butterfly's wings opening after it leaves the cocoon.

   The flower's petals slowly unfold in the morning sun.

   The cardboard box unfolded as soon as she pulled the tab.

   Similaropen, unfurl

   Oppositefold

3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To happen and develop over time, step by step.

   Like a plan that slowly comes together one piece at a time.

   The story will unfold over the next few episodes.

   Events unfolded quickly after the announcement.

   Similardevelop, evolve, progress, proceed

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To explain or show something fully, bringing out all its details bit by bit.

   Like opening up a folded map so you can finally see the whole picture.

   Let me unfold the whole plan for you, step by step.

   The detective unfolded the truth behind the strange events.

   Similarreveal, disclose, explain, present, recount

   Oppositeconceal

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To let sheep or other farm animals out of the pen where they are kept.

   Similarrelease

   Oppositefold, pen

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To join lines of text back into one line.

   Like taping two halves of a cut line back together.

   The editor can unfold long lines when you turn off wrapping.

   She unfolded the wrapped paragraph to edit it as one line.

   Oppositefold

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A kind of function in programming that builds up a list of values, the opposite of one that folds them down.

   Like a single seed growing into a tree with many branches.

   An unfold can turn a single number into a long list of values.

   Programmers use an unfold to grow a list from one starting point.

   Oppositefold

   Note

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