uncoil

verb

un·​coil ˌən-ˈkȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce uncoil (audio)
uncoiled; uncoiling; uncoils

transitive verb

: to release from a coiled state : unwind

Examples of uncoil in a Sentence

The spring began to uncoil.
Recent Examples on the Web Looking over a wobbly guardrail, Dale Landmann uncoiled a few feet of rope, cautiously lowering a white plastic pipe into the opaque waters of the Calumet River on a recent hot weekday morning. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023 This made coiling and uncoiling the hose go a lot smoother. Kate Morgan, Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023 Italian start-up Kite gen employs the same concept but uses a giant kite rather than a glider to uncoil the tether. Erik Vance, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2011 Then, four small rovers would slowly uncoil nearly 30 miles of wire and 128 antennas into a spiral pattern covering some 6 miles. Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2021 When Ragnarok—the Norse apocalypse—arrives, Jorganmandr will uncoil itself for a final battle with the god Thor. Regina Hansen, WSJ, 24 June 2021 His songs uncoil instead of taking predictable linear paths, and his writing is performed as an act of soul-searching. Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 18 May 2021 The sudden tug caused the molecular structure of the PTFE to uncoil, creating billions of microscopic air pockets that added strength and porosity. Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2020 The nocturnal road that uncoils in front of her is made up of lanes outlined in shimmering colors. Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uncoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncoil was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near uncoil

Cite this Entry

“Uncoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncoil. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

uncoil

verb
un·​coil ˌən-ˈkȯi(ə)l How to pronounce uncoil (audio)
ˈən-
: to release or become released from a coiled state : unwind

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