unwound

[uhn-wound]

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verb

simple past tense and past participle of unwind.

unwind

[uhn-wahynd]

verb (used with object), un·wound, un·wind·ing.

to undo or loosen from or as if from a coiled condition: to unwind a rolled bandage; to unwind a coiled rope.

to reduce the tension of; relax: to unwind a person with a drink.

to disentangle or disengage; untwist: to unwind one's legs from around the stool.

verb (used without object), un·wound, un·wind·ing.

to become unwound.

to become relieved of tension; relax: After work we can have a drink and unwind.

Origin of unwind

1275–1325; Middle English onwinden; see un-², wind²

Related formsun·wind·a·ble, adjectiveun·wind·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unwound

loosen, unravel, unfurl, loose, slacken, separate, disentangle, free, unroll, unwrap, ravel, unbend, untwine, untwist, unreel, uncoil, recline, quieten, rest

Examples from the Web for unwound

Contemporary Examples of unwound

The U.S. says Iran should suspend the 20 percent enrichment as a confidence-building measure before sanctions begin to be unwound.
Behind the Smiles in Geneva, No Concrete Progress in Iran Negotiations
Michael Adler
October 17, 2013
The unwound are some citizens George Packer found and spent time with, people who symbolize this American nightmare.
The National Book Awards Longlist for Nonfiction
September 18, 2013
The guarantees and bailouts the Fed put in place in 2008 and 2009 have been unwound without significant cost to the public.
Ben Bernanke’s Federal Reserve Is Boring Again
Daniel Gross
December 12, 2012
And so one of the least-wanted stock positions in American history has been unwound at a tidy profit.
Surprise—We Made $23 Billion Off AIG!
Daniel Gross
December 11, 2012
Special-purpose courts can be created and unwound as it suits the leader.
Where Iran's Regime Learned Its Tricks
Scott Horton
June 26, 2009

Historical Examples of unwound

"I have the cord," the man said, and unwound some ten feet of stout rope from his waist.
Under Wellington's Command
G. A. Henty
Hunterleys unwound his scarf and handed his coat and hat to a page-boy.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo
E. Phillips Oppenheim
She unwound the brown veil from her head and tied it about his throat.
O Pioneers!
Willa Cather
He had unwound the cloak from round his arm and held it in front of him like a shield.
"Unto Caesar"
Baroness Emmuska Orczy
She took the straps from them, and unwound the sheets and bathing clothes.
The Northern Iron
George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for unwound

unwound

verb

the past tense and past participle of unwind

unwind

verb -winds, -winding or -wound

to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel

(tr) to disentangle

to make or become relaxedhe finds it hard to unwind after a busy day at work

Derived Formsunwindable, adjectiveunwinder, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unwound

unwind

early 14c., "to undo" (a bandage, wrapping, etc.), from un- (2) + wind (v.). Cf. Old English unwindan, Dutch ontwinden, Old High German intwindan. Refl. sense is recorded from 1740; figurative sense of "to release oneself from tensions, to relax" is recorded from 1938. Related: Unwound; unwinding.