UNFURL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unfurl mean? 

• UNFURL (verb)
  The verb UNFURL has 1 sense:

1. unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state

  Familiarity information: UNFURL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNFURL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they unfurl    ... he / she / it unfurls   
Past simple: unfurled   
Past participle: unfurled   
-ing form: unfurling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

unfurl; unroll

Context example:

unfurl a banner

Hypernyms (to "unfurl" is one way to...):

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

roll up (form a cylinder by rolling)

 Context examples 

Its strange shawl suddenly unfurled, spread, and fluttered as a pair of leathery wings.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And so, old friend, my heart is hot within me, and I long to hear the old battle-cry again, and, by God's truth! if Sir Nigel unfurls his pennon, here is one who will be right glad to feel the saddle-flaps under his knees.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)