unfold Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb develop or come to a promising stage
blossom; blossom out; blossom forth.
- Youth blossomed into maturity
verb open to the view
- A walk through town will unfold many interesting buildings
verb extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length
stretch; extend; stretch out.
- Unfold the newspaper
- stretch out that piece of cloth
- extend the TV antenna
verb spread out or open from a closed or folded state
spread; open; spread out.
- open the map
- spread your arms

AS. unfealdan. See 1st Un-, and Fold, v. t.

To open the folds of; to expand; to spread out; as, to unfold a tablecloth.
Unfold thy forehead gathered into frowns. Herbert.
To open, as anything covered or close; to lay open to view or contemplation; to bring out in all the details, or by successive development; to display; to disclose; to reveal; to elucidate; to explain; as, to unfold one's designs; to unfold the principles of a science.
Unfold the passion of my love. Shak.
To release from a fold or pen; as, to unfold sheep.

To open; to expand; to become disclosed or developed.
The wind blows cold While the morning doth unfold. J. Fletcher.