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to unmoor

to unmoor

1 8.3
To release a boat or ship from its ropes so it can move
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈmʊr/
translation icon : desamarra
  • As the tide rose, the fishermen unmoored their small vessels from the pier to begin their early morning catch.

Examples

  • After finishing their preparations, they finally unmoored the boat and set sail for the open sea.

  • My father unmoored the Nell, but before he could hop aboard, Lamar gunned the sportsfisher from the dock.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Once inside, it took 30 seconds for the co-pilot to unmoor the boat, scramble in, point out the emergency exits and flotation devices, and jump into his seat.

    Blog text (12)
  • He carefully unmoored the yacht, making sure to leave the dock without any damage.

Synonyms

to release
vsto unmoor
1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

is specific to letting a boat go from its fixed ties
to extricate
vsto unmoor
22 7.6

Free a person or thing from something that traps them

refers to simple untying of a boat rather than solving complex problems
to let loose
vsto unmoor
13 3.8

Set something free from being held or controlled

is specifically about freeing a tied boat to move freely
to unchain
vsto unmoor
6 4.1

Remove chains and other things that hold someone so they are free

applies to freeing a boat from ropes rather than heavy chains
to unshackle
vsto unmoor
5 6.5

Free someone or something from limits and control

is concrete boat release from tied positions rather than figurative freedom
to unhitch
vsto unmoor
4 5.7

To take off something that is attached to another thing, like a trailer or bicycle

is used for releasing a boat from shore ties not vehicle trailers
to unbind
vsto unmoor
3 6.4

To free something by untying ropes or cords

focuses on releasing a boat from its tied place not just untying objects
to undock
vsto unmoor
2 6.6

To move a ship or spacecraft away from a dock

is specific to freeing boats from fixed ties
to untether
vsto unmoor
1 6.6

To release something that is tied or fastened so it can move away

involves freeing a boat from fixed ropes rather than general ties

Antonyms

91 2.8

To bring a boat to a platform at the water and tie it up

to moor
  • Specialized
11 5.1

To tie a boat so it does not move

How Attached

to anchor
51 3.4
to moor
  • Specialized
11 5.1
to unmoor
1 8.3

Surface Forms

unmoor infinitive
unmoored past
unmoored past participle
unmooring present participle
unmoors third person singular

Morphology

unmoor = moor (transparent) = un + moor

The word 'unmoor' is transparently derived from 'moor' by adding the prefix 'un-', indicating the reversal of the action.

Etymology

The word unmoor is made of the prefix un- meaning 'remove' and moor meaning 'to tie a boat to a dock or the land'. So, to unmoor is to 'remove the ties' and set the boat free to move.