unfold
/ʌn'fould/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To open or spread out something that is folded, closed, or coiled: To move the parts of an object so they lie flat or are fully extended.
- To reveal, disclose, or present (thoughts, information, or events) gradually or in stages: To make something known or visible that was previously hidden or unclear.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become opened, spread out, or revealed: To open out or develop gradually over time.
- To develop or happen as a sequence of events: To proceed or take place in a particular way.
Usage Examples
- Verb (transitive):
- She carefully unfolded the letter to read it.
- The speaker began to unfold his complex plan to the audience.
- Verb (intransitive):
- As we drove, a beautiful landscape unfolded before us.
- The plot of the mystery novel unfolded slowly.
Advanced Usage
- "to unfold itself": To reveal or develop by its own nature or course.
- The true meaning of the ancient text unfolded itself to the patient scholar.
- In a narrative context: Often used to describe how a story, situation, or series of events develops.
- Watch how the drama unfolds in the final act.
Variants and Related Words
- Unfolding (noun/gerund): The process or an instance of opening out or developing.
- We witnessed the gradual unfolding of the flower.
- Refold (verb): To fold again. (This is an antonymic action related to the core meaning of 'unfold').
Synonyms
- Open: To move something so that it is no longer closed.
- Unfurl: To unroll or spread out (often used for sails, flags, or scrolls).
- Unravel: To disentangle or explain; often used for mysteries or complicated situations.
- Develop: To grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
- Disclose: To make new or secret information known.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: 'Unfold' is not typically used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is generally contained within the single word.)
Related Idioms
- The truth will unfold: The real facts will eventually become known.
- We don't have all the answers now, but the truth will unfold in time.
- A tale that unfolds: A story that is told or revealed.
- He told us a tale that unfolded over many years.
Verb
- spread out or open from a closed or folded state
- open the map
- spread your arms
- extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
- Unfold the newspaper
- stretch out that piece of cloth
- extend the TV antenna
- open to the view
- A walk through town will unfold many interesting buildings
- develop or come to a promising stage
- Youth blossomed into maturity