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Definition of unfold verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

unfold

verb
 
/ʌnˈfəʊld/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊld/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they unfold
 
/ʌnˈfəʊld/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊld/
he / she / it unfolds
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldz/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldz/
past simple unfolded
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪd/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪd/
past participle unfolded
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪd/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪd/
-ing form unfolding
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪŋ/
 
/ʌnˈfəʊldɪŋ/
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] unfold (something) to spread open or flat something that has previously been folded; to become open and flat
    • to unfold a map
    • She unfolded her arms.
    opposite fold
    Extra Examples
    • She unfolded the letter and read it yet again.
    • The collapsible ladder unfolds quickly and locks into place for added safety.
  2. [intransitive, transitive] to be gradually made known; to gradually make something known to other people
    • The audience watched as the story unfolded before their eyes.
    • Dramatic events were about to unfold.
    • unfold something (to somebody) She unfolded her tale to us.
  3. Word OriginOld English unfealdan (from un- and the verb fold).
See unfold in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee unfold in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
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