uncoil

Everyday

To unwind or straighten something that was wound into rings, like a rope, a hose or a snake. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature, snakes coil up to rest and uncoil to move or strike. In the Just So Story «The Elephant's Child», the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake uncoils himself from the rock to help the Elephant's Child pull away from the Crocodile. On boats, sailors uncoil ropes.

Examples

• The snake slowly uncoiled itself from the branch. tree →
• Uncoil the hose before you water the garden. tree →
• The Rock-Snake uncoiled himself and knotted his tail round a tree. tree →
• The sailor uncoiled the rope and threw it to the shore. tree →
• The spring uncoiled with a twang. tree →
• She uncoiled from the sofa and stretched. tree →
• As dawn broke, the Worm uncoiled its snaky twine from around the hill, and came to its rock in the river. tree →

Note

Prefix un- = undo: coil (wind into rings) — uncoil (unwind). Past uncoiled.