Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive & intransitive verb To unwind or untwist or to become unwound or untwisted.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To unwind or open the coils (of).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To unwind or open, as a coil of rope.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive to unwind or untwist.
  • verb intransitive To unwind or untwist oneself.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb unwind or untwist

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • "What signifies a great clumsy boat that the brig could n't hoist in nor tow," answered Jack, coolly, turning short round at the same time, but not condescending to "uncoil" his arms as he did so, a mark of indifference that would probably have helped to mystify the captain, had he even actually suspected that anything was wrong beyond the supposed accident to the boat in question.

    Jack Tier James Fenimore Cooper 1820

  • It took a ton of effort to "uncoil," and the teal were long gone by the time I finally managed get into shooting position.

    chron.com Chronicle 2009

  • It took a ton of effort to "uncoil," and the teal were long gone by the time I finally managed get into shooting position.

    chron.com Chronicle 2009

  • It took a ton of effort to "uncoil," and the teal were long gone by the time I finally managed get into shooting position.

    chron.com Chronicle 2009

  • It took a ton of effort to "uncoil," and the teal were long gone by the time I finally managed get into shooting position.

    chron.com Chronicle 2009

  • It took a ton of effort to "uncoil," and the teal were long gone by the time I finally managed get into shooting position.

    chron.com Chronicle 2009

  • German police investigators triggered an international manhunt for Neil last year when they managed to "uncoil" his digitally altered, swirled internet photographs that showed him abusing a dozen young boys in Cambodia and Vietnam, some appearing to be well under 10.

    The Earth Times Online Newspaper 2008

  • We dream of birds, watch them pepper the sky in migratory lines that coil and uncoil such hard instincts in deep September.

    The Other World Sam Rasnake 2010

  • The first time I held it in my hand, felt its surprisingly not-slimy-at-all skin crawling over mine, watched it uncoil and writhe smoothly across and around my pale wrist, I was proud of myself.

    Dirty Secret Jessie Sholl 2011

  • "It can freeze up, and trying to uncoil it is hard," he says.

    The New Cold Warrior Gwendolyn Bounds 2011

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