to unloose (a) knot

5.9

To untie a knot so it comes apart

phrasal verb
/ʌnˈluːs/

Archaic

: deshacer

It took him several minutes to unloose the knot in the shoelace.

Examples

The sailor carefully unloosed the knot to free the anchor.
With a gentle tug, she managed to unloose the stubborn knot in her hair.
After the hike, she tried to unloose the knot in the rope.
He struggled to unloose the knot that had formed in the fishing line.
The firefighter worked quickly to unloose the knot that trapped the injured man.

Synonyms

to untie

vsto unloose (a) knot

91 1.0

Make a knot or lace loose by undoing it

focuses on making the loop less tight to free it rather than general undoing

to loosen

vsto unloose (a) knot

88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

targets freeing a tight loop specifically rather than general making it less tight

to unravel

vsto unloose (a) knot

38 4.3

To come apart into threads, like a rope or cloth

involves making a tight loop less tight rather than pulling something apart into threads

to untangle

vsto unloose (a) knot

10 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

is focused on making a tight loop less tight rather than separating many twisted parts

to unwind

vsto unloose (a) knot

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

does the same but makes a tight loop less tight rather than reversing winding

to unfasten

vsto unloose (a) knot

5 3.4

To open something by undoing a button or zipper

is about freeing a tight loop by making it less tight rather than opening closures

to unbind

vsto unloose (a) knot

3 6.4

To free something by untying ropes or cords

focuses on freeing a tight loop by making it less tight rather than general release

to untwist

vsto unloose (a) knot

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

is specifically about making a tight loop less tight rather than simply straightening twists

to disentangle

vsto unloose (a) knot

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

works specifically by making a tight loop less tight, not just separating it from others

to unloose

vsto unloose (a) knot

Archaic

1 7.0

To make something less tight or set something free

applies that action specifically to a tight loop by making it less tight

to unknot

vsto unloose (a) knot

1 5.1

To make a tied rope or string loose so it comes apart

is done by making the loop less tight rather than pulling it apart

to unsnarl

vsto unloose (a) knot

1 7.6

To free something from a tangle, like knots in rope or wire

uses making the loop less tight to free it rather than clearing a messy tangle

to untwine

vsto unloose (a) knot

1 7.4

To separate things that are twisted together, like cables or yarn

focuses on making a tight loop less tight rather than separating multiple wound items

to unloosen

vsto unloose (a) knot

Archaic

7.2

To make something less tight or free it from something holding it

is focused on freeing a tight loop specifically by making it less tight

Antonyms

to tie

923 1.0

To fasten things together by making a knot with string or rope

How Loose

to unloose (a) knot

Archaic

5.9

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

unloose (a) knot infinitive

unloosed (a) knot past

unloosed (a) knot past participle

unloosing (a) knot present participle

unlooses (a) knot third person singular

Morphology

unloose + (a) + knot

The meaning 'to untie or free a knot' is directly and compositionally derived from 'unloose' (to make less tight or free) + 'knot' (a fastening). The parenthetical article '(a)' is irrelevant and the verb+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Unloose (a) knot shows a simple picture: you work your fingers to loosen the tight loops of a knot until the rope comes free. That's why it means 'to untie or free a knot'.