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Glite Dictionary
to uncurl

to uncurl

2 3.2
To move from a rolled or folded shape into a more open form
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈkɜrl/
translation icon : desenrollar
  • Mary Craine tried to spread Abigail's fingers out, to uncurl them inside her own palm, but the baby's hands only gripped her finger more tightly.
  • uncurl your fingers
  • uncurl my fist
  • uncurl your toes

Examples

  • Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a way to uncurl my toes after reading this.

    Blog text (16)

  • Strangely relieved, he let his fingers uncurl.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Jacob slowly uncurls his body and sits up.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I felt my fingers uncurling and stretching outward bit by bit.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Sentinels: Three piebald kittens, stubby-tailed, behind the garbage cans, uncurl their paws to scratch.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • After feeling the warmth of the sun, she decided to uncurl her fingers and let go of the tightly-held blanket.

  • He took a deep breath and slowly began to uncurl from the fetal position on the floor.

  • As the dog relaxed, its body gradually uncurled from the tight ball it had been lying in.

Synonyms

to unfold
vsto uncurl
39 1.3

Open something that is folded so it becomes flat

is about changing rounded or looped positions rather than unfolding flat items
to straighten out
vsto uncurl
11 2.9

To make something free of bends, twists, or knots

focuses specifically on moving things out of looped or bent positions
to unfurl
vsto uncurl
11 4.5

To open something rolled or folded so it lies flat

covers changing rounded shapes into straighter forms rather than flattening folded material
to unwind
vsto uncurl
5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

acts more generally to move objects out of bent or looped shapes
to uncoil
vsto uncurl
3 3.7

To make something that is rolled or curled become straight

moves items out of looped or bent positions in general
to untwist
vsto uncurl
2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

applies more broadly to changing rounded or looped positions
to unkink
vsto uncurl
1 5.8

To make a hose, wire, or rope straight by removing bends

works on larger looped shapes or full rounding rather than tiny kinks
to unreel
vsto uncurl
1 7.4

To pull a line or cable from a reel

describes general movement out of rounded or looped positions, not reel release
to uncoil from
vsto uncurl
5.4

To come out of a tight roll or curl

moves items out of looped or bent positions in general
to unbend
vsto uncurl
4.9

Make a part straight after it becomes curved

is about moving objects out of rounded or looped positions, not simple bends

Antonyms

to curl
173 1.1

To form into a curved or spiral shape

How Straight

to straighten
114 2.5
to uncurl
2 3.2
to uncoil
3 3.7

Surface Forms

uncurl infinitive
uncurled past
uncurled past participle
uncurling present participle
uncurls third person singular

Morphology

uncurl = curl (transparent) = un + curl

Productive negative/reversative prefix 'un-' applied to the verb 'curl' yields the straightforward meaning 'reverse the curling action', which is directly derivable by learners.

Etymology

Uncurl comes from the prefix un- meaning 'reverse', as in undo, and curl meaning 'to form a curve', like curly hair. So, to uncurl is to move out of a curled or rolled-up position.