Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 VERB If you unwind a length of something that is wrapped round something else or round itself, you loosen it and make it straight. You can also say that it unwinds . □ [V n] One of them unwound a length of rope from around his waist. □ [V ] The thread unwound a little more.

un|wise /ʌ nwa I z/ ADJ If you describe something as unwise , you think that it is foolish and likely to lead to a bad result. □  It would be unwise to expect too much. □  …a series of unwise investments in plastics and shipping. ●  un|wise|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  She accepted that she had acted unwisely and mistakenly.

un|wit|ting /ʌnw I t I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or their actions as unwitting , you mean that the person does something or is involved in something without realizing it. □  We're unwitting victims of the system. □  It had been an unwitting blunder on the Prime Minister's part. ●  un|wit|ting|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  He was unwittingly caught up in the confrontation.

un|work|able /ʌ nwɜː ^r kəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe something such as a plan, law, or system as unworkable , you believe that it cannot be successful. □  There is the strong possibility that such cooperation will prove unworkable. □  Washington is unhappy with the peace plan which it views as unworkable.

un|world|ly /ʌ nwɜː ^r ldli/

1 ADJ If you describe someone as unworldly , you mean that they have not experienced many things in their life and do not know what sort of things usually happen to other people during their lives. □  She was so young, so unworldly. □ [+ about ] He is a little unworldly about such matters.

2 ADJ If you describe someone as unworldly , you mean that they are not interested in having a lot of money or possessions. □  Kitty's family was unworldly, unimpressed by power, or money.

un|wor|thy /ʌnwɜː ^r ði/

1 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] If a person or thing is unworthy of something good, they do not deserve it. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] He felt unworthy of being married to such an attractive woman.

2 ADJ If you say that an action is unworthy of someone, you mean that it is not a nice thing to do and someone with their reputation or position should not do it. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] His accusations are unworthy of a prime minister.

un|wound /ʌ nwaʊ nd/ Unwound is the past tense and past participle of unwind .

un|wrap /ʌ nræ p/ (unwraps , unwrapping , unwrapped ) VERB When you unwrap something, you take off the paper, plastic, or other covering that is around it. □ [V n] I untied the bow and unwrapped the small box.

un|writ|ten /ʌ nr I t ^ə n/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something such as a book that is unwritten has not been printed or written down. □  Publishers have bought the unwritten book of this trip for very large sums.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unwritten rule, law, or agreement is one that is understood and accepted by everyone, although it may not have been formally or officially established. □  They obey the one unwritten rule that binds them all–no talking.

un|yield|ing /ʌnjiː ld I ŋ/

1 ADJ You describe someone as unyielding when they have very strong, fixed ideas about something and are unlikely to change their mind. [WRITTEN ] □  The authorities proved unyielding on one crucial opposition demand. □  His unyielding attitude on this subject was that since he had done it, so could everyone.