UNFOLDING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does unfolding mean? 

• UNFOLDING (noun)
  The noun UNFOLDING has 1 sense:

1. a developmental process

  Familiarity information: UNFOLDING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNFOLDING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A developmental process

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

flowering; unfolding

Context example:

the flowering of antebellum culture

Hypernyms ("unfolding" is a kind of...):

development; evolution (a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage))

Derivation:

unfold (develop or come to a promising stage)

 Context examples 

But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character—it adds even another motive.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“It's money, sir,” said Mr. Peggotty, unfolding it a little way.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Unfolding it, I found that it consisted of three pages torn from his note-book and addressed to me.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Acetylated histones have a reduced affinity for chromatin; this reduced histone-chromatin affinity may allow chromosomal unfolding, potentially enhancing the expression of genes related to tumor cell growth arrest and apoptosis.

(Arginine butyrate, NCI Thesaurus)

Hsp70 plays a significant role in protein unfolding for entry into mitochondria and also interacts with tumor suppressor gene products to produce their anti-proliferative activity.

(Interferon Signaling Modulation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

"This next thing I've called 'The Pot'," he said, unfolding the manuscript.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Look here," said he, unfolding a parcel in his hand, and displaying a small miniature painting, "do you know who that is?"

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"Only one of my stupid speeches. I'm going to bed. Come, Peggy," said Jo, unfolding herself like an animated puzzle.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Mr. Sherlock Holmes was leaning back in his chair after his whimsical protest, and was unfolding his morning paper in a leisurely fashion, when our attention was arrested by a tremendous ring at the bell, followed immediately by a hollow drumming sound, as if someone were beating on the outer door with his fist.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)