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Glite Dictionary
to unstaple

to unstaple

1 7.5
Remove staples from papers
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈsteɪpəl/
translation icon : desgrampadora
  • He carefully unstapled the stack of papers to review the original notes.

Examples

  • Please unstaple all the forms before handing them in.

  • She unstapled the papers quickly.

  • After you unstaple the pages, put the staples in the recycling bin.

  • He carefully unstapled the documents to make photocopies.

  • Please unstaple these documents before filing them.

  • To prepare the document for copying, please unstaple all the pages.

  • Before recycling the waste paper, make sure to unstaple it first.

Antonyms

to staple
30 3.7

To attach papers together with a small bent metal wire

Surface Forms

unstaple infinitive
unstapled past
unstapled past participle
unstapling present participle
unstaples third person singular

Morphology

unstaple = staple (transparent) = un + staple

The negative prefix 'un-' is productively applied to the verb 'staple' to mean 'remove staples', a straightforward and regular formation.

Etymology

Unstaple is made of the prefix un-, meaning 'do the opposite', and staple, the small metal fastener you know from a stapler. So, to unstaple something is to 'remove' the staples from paper or documents.