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to unbolt

to unbolt

3 3.7
To move a metal bar or lock that keeps a door closed
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈboʊlt/
translation icon : desbloquear
  • Go down the back stairs, unbolt the side passage door.
  • the door unbolted
  • unbolt the lock
  • unbolt from the wall

Examples

  • Unbolt the wagon door.

  • One of the guards goes and unbolts the door.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • So I need to unbolt this and get this fitted on there.

  • Reaching inside, he unbolted the door and turned the knob.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Tansy, when she came downstairs, assumed that she herself had left the door unbolted.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • With great effort, she unbolts the coupling bracket.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Andrew nodded to the doctor, who went over and unbolted the latch.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • But she unbolted the door and let him in, nervously tucking stray wisps of hair under her cap.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Rimney staggers to the door, unbolts it, and stands looking out.

  • Go down the back stairs, unbolt the side passage door.

Synonyms

to unscrew
vsto unbolt
20 3.0

Turn something so a lid or other fastened part comes off

is about removing a sliding lock rather than using a turning action
to unlatch
vsto unbolt
7 3.2

Open something by lifting or releasing a small catch that holds it closed

is about undoing a catch rather than removing a sliding lock
to unfasten
vsto unbolt
5 3.4

To open something by undoing a button or zipper

is narrower used for removing a sliding lock instead of any fastener
to unbar
vsto unbolt
7.4

To remove a bar or bolt from a door so it can open

is specific to taking out a sliding rod rather than any fastening

Antonyms

34 2.8

To fasten a door or gate with a sliding metal bar

Surface Forms

unbolt infinitive
unbolted past
unbolted past participle
unbolting present participle
unbolts third person singular

Morphology

unbolt = bolt (transparent) = un + bolt

Productive negating prefix 'un-' reverses the action of the verb 'bolt', so the meaning 'undo/remove the bolt' is directly inferable.

Etymology

Unbolt is made of un- and bolt. un- means 'reverse' and a bolt is a 'metal bar that holds a door closed', so to unbolt something is to slide that bar back and open the door.