🛠️ To detach 😵 To unsettle 🧪 To remove fixative 👀 To look away

to unfix

8.1

Remove the chemical that keeps cells or photos in place

verb
/ʌnˈfɪks/

Specialized

: retirar el fijador

After developing the photograph, the technician will unfix the image to complete the process.

Examples

The technician needs to unfix the sample for analysis.
It is important to unfix the specimen carefully to avoid damaging the cells.
The scientist needed to unfix the tissue sample before applying the next chemical.
She will unfix the photo in the darkroom.
The scientist needed to unfix the tissue sample before applying the next chemical.
After developing the photograph, the technician will unfix the image to complete the process.
It is important to unfix the specimen carefully to avoid damaging the cells.

Antonyms

to attach

459 2.5

To join or fasten one thing to another so they stay together

Surface Forms

unfix infinitive

unfixed past

unfixed past participle

unfixing present participle

unfixes third person singular

Morphology

unfix = fix (transparent) = un + fix

In technical contexts 'unfix' denotes reversing a fixation process (undoing a 'fix'), a direct morphological negation using 'un-'.

Etymology

Unfix in photography and science uses un- ('reverse') and fix ('to make permanent' or 'hold in place'), so to unfix a sample or image is to remove the fixing step and undo the 'made permanent' state.