noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ʌnˈfoʊld/
Received-Pronunciation:/ʌnˈfəʊld/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊld
CMU ARPABET:AH0 N F OW1 L D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
In functional programming, a kind of higher-order function that is the opposite of a fold.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Unfold the newspaper
stretch out that piece of cloth
extend the TV antenna
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stretch, stretch out, extend
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change shape, change form, deform
11
verb
Meaning 11
open to the view
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
A walk through town will unfold many interesting buildings
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: uncover, bring out, unveil, reveal
History
Etymology
From Middle English unfolden, from Old English unfealdan (“to unfold”), equivalent to un- + fold.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h2éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- English fold English unfold From un- + fold (“to confine into a fold or pen”).
Across languages
Translations
65 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
развивам
(razvivam)
— To undo a folding
Bulgarian:
разгъвам
(razgǎvam)
— To undo a folding
Catalan:
desdoblar
— To undo a folding
Catalan:
desdoblegar
— To undo a folding
Chinese Mandarin:
展開 /展开
(zhǎnkāi)
— To undo a folding
Czech:
rozprostřít
— To undo a folding
Danish:
folde ud
— To undo a folding
Dutch:
openvouwen
— To undo a folding
Dutch:
uitspreiden
— To undo a folding
Finnish:
levittää
— To undo a folding
French:
déplier
— To undo a folding
French:
dérouler
— To undo a folding
Galician:
estender
— To undo a folding
German:
entfalten
— To undo a folding
German:
ausbreiten
— To undo a folding
Japanese:
広げる
(hirogeru)
— To undo a folding
Korean:
펴다
(pyeoda)
— To undo a folding
Latin:
explicō
— To undo a folding
Latin:
dēplicō
— To undo a folding
Māori:
māroha
— To undo a folding
Portuguese:
desdobrar
— To undo a folding
Romanian:
desfășura
— To undo a folding
Russian:
развора́чивать
(razvoráčivatʹ)
— To undo a folding
Russian:
развёртывать
(razvjórtyvatʹ)
— To undo a folding
Russian:
разверну́ть
(razvernútʹ)
— To undo a folding
Russian:
раскла́дывать
(raskládyvatʹ)
— To undo a folding
Russian:
разложи́ть
(razložítʹ)
— To undo a folding
Spanish:
desplegar
— To undo a folding
Spanish:
explayar
— To undo a folding
Swedish:
vika upp
— To undo a folding
Swedish:
veckla upp
— To undo a folding
Telugu:
మడత తీయు
(maḍata tīyu)
— To undo a folding
Telugu:
మడత విప్పు
(maḍata vippu)
— To undo a folding
Ukrainian:
розгорта́ти
(rozhortáty)
— To undo a folding
Ukrainian:
розгорну́ти
(rozhornúty)
— To undo a folding
Ukrainian:
розклада́ти
(rozkladáty)
— To undo a folding
Ukrainian:
розкла́сти
(rozklásty)
— To undo a folding
Venetan:
destirar
— To undo a folding
Ukrainian:
розгорта́тися
(rozhortátysja)
— To become unfolded
Ukrainian:
розгорну́тися
(rozhornútysja)
— To become unfolded
Bulgarian:
развивам се
(razvivam se)
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Catalan:
desenvolupar
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Czech:
vyvinout se
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Dutch:
ontvouwen
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Dutch:
ontwikkelen
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Finnish:
tapahtua
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
French:
dérouler
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
German:
sich entfalten
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
German:
sich entwickeln
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
German:
sich abzeichnen
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
German:
sich anbahnen
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Romanian:
desfășura
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Russian:
развора́чиваться
(razvoráčivatʹsja)
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Russian:
разверну́ться
(razvernútʹsja)
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Spanish:
discurrir
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Spanish:
desenvolverse
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Ukrainian:
розгорта́тися
(rozhortátysja)
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
Ukrainian:
розгорну́тися
(rozhornútysja)
— To turn out; to happen; to develop
