unzip

American  

[uhn-zip] / ʌnˈzɪp /

verb (used with object)

unzipped, unzipping

1. to open the zipper of.

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verb (used without object)

unzipped, unzipping

1. to become unzipped.

unzip British  

/ ʌnˈzɪp /

verb

1. to unfasten the zip of (a garment) or (of a zip or garment with a zip) to become unfastened

   her skirt unzipped as she sat down

2. (tr) computing to decompress (a file) that had previously been zipped

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Etymology

Origin of unzip

First recorded in 1935–40; un- ² + zip ²

Example Sentences

Scientists have long suggested tectonic plates could unzip like this.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 9, 2024

But when Arabidopsis seedlings sense they're under attack, special enzymes called RNA helicases are produced that unzip the hairpins so the ribosomes can pass through and continue scanning along the mRNA molecule.

From Science Daily • Sep. 21, 2023

Truly, it was criminal how my mother’s purse strings would not unzip.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2023

The foam can also be recycled because it has bonds that can unzip the chemical network after it has formed.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2023

I went to unzip my duffel but thought of all the dirty clothes stuffed inside, of the smell they'd emit, and thought better.

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour