UNROLL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unroll mean? 

• UNROLL (verb)
  The verb UNROLL has 2 senses:

1. reverse the winding or twisting of

2. unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state

  Familiarity information: UNROLL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNROLL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they unroll    ... he / she / it unrolls   
Past simple: unrolled   
Past participle: unrolled   
-ing form: unrolling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reverse the winding or twisting of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

unroll; unwind; wind off

Context example:

unwind a ball of yarn

Hypernyms (to "unroll" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

unfurl; unroll

Context example:

unfurl a banner

Hypernyms (to "unroll" is one way to...):

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

“Theer's one thing furder, Mas'r Davy,” said he, putting his hand in his breast-pocket, and gravely taking out the little paper bundle I had seen before, which he unrolled on the table.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A strange, a terribly strange, region was unrolling itself before my eyes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

She glanced desperately around the cabin and at the bed unrolled on the other bunk.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

With a glow of admiration I watched Holmes unrolling his case of instruments and choosing his tool with the calm, scientific accuracy of a surgeon who performs a delicate operation.

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

Back in his room he unrolled it and found a hundred-dollar bill.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Not quite entirely had the porcupine unrolled when it discovered its enemy.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The chancellor rose, and having slowly unrolled the parchment-scroll, proceeded to read it out in a thick and pompous voice, while a subdued rustle and movement among the brothers bespoke the interest with which they followed the proceedings.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Slowly, cautiously, it was unrolling its ball of impregnable armour.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He had waited too often and futilely in the past for porcupines to unroll, to waste any more time.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The porcupine might unroll.

(White Fang, by Jack London)