“+ verb
Etymology: Middle English unwinden, from un- (II) + winden to wind
transitive verb
1.
a. : to free from convolution or cause to uncoil : wind off : unroll
unwind a bedroll
unwound her arms from his neck
unwind thread from a spool
b. : to free from or as if from a binding or knot : disengage , undo
unwind a bandaged arm
unwound himself from his machine only to fall … into an exhausted sleep — W.B.Ready
an awful lot of red tape to unwind — S.E.White
c. : to release from tension : relax
try to let yourself go … unwind yourself — Claud Cockburn
2. archaic : to traverse in the opposite direction : retrace
unwinding the labyrinth and bringing the hero … to a state of rest — Laurence Sterne
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become uncoiled or disentangled : unfold , unreel
the dance record went on and on … as the machine unwound — Millen Brand
the narrative unwinds slowly
a vague, unraveling, final tune like a long unwinding silk cocoon — Vachel Lindsay
b. : to throw off restraint : cut loose
wanted to be ready to unwind with the race of his life — Time
2. : to become released from tension : relax
this ability to block official worries out of his range of thought … enables him to unwind — Russell Baker