uncoil

English

Etymology

un- +‎ coil

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʌnˈkɔɪəl/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪəl

Verb

uncoil (third-person singular simple present uncoils, present participle uncoiling, simple past and past participle uncoiled)

1. (transitive) To unwind or untwist (something).

   Can you help me uncoil this rope?

   • 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 174:

     I was walking up and down, putting her to sleep one evening, when I found myself treading on something most repulsively soft; and as I did so, the reptile uncoiled itself and quietly glided off the verandah.

2. (intransitive) To unwind or untwist oneself.

   The snake uncoiled and prepared to strike.

3. (transitive, slang, uncommon) To defecate.

Translations

unwind or untwist (something)

• Bulgarian: развивам (bg) (razvivam), размотавам (bg) (razmotavam)
• Latin: explicō

unwind or untwist (oneself)

Anagrams

• ouncil, ulicon