What does unbraid mean?
Unbraid is a transitive verb meaning to undo a braid or separate strands that have been woven together. It is most often used with hair, rope, string, and similar materials: someone may unbraid their hair before washing it or unbraid a rope to separate its strands. The word can also be understood more broadly as untangling or disentangling something. Its imagery is clear and physical, emphasizing the reversal of a deliberate process in which separate strands are joined together. Although unbraid is understandable and used in both British and American English, it is less common than the general terms untangle and disentangle. Its distinctive value lies in specifying this gentle reversal of braiding, a process associated with hair care, ropework, textiles, and other forms of interlacing.
verbTo undo a braid, especially in hair or rope; by extension, to untangle or disentangle.
- To undo a braid in hair, rope, or another material.
- To untangle or disentangle something, especially by separating interwoven strands.
"She carefully unbraid her hair before washing it."
"She asked the performer to unbraid the rope before the demonstration."
"The child tried to unbraid the tangled strands of the kite string."
A braid weaves strands together; unbraid carefully takes them apart again.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How unbraid is actually used
Unbraid is normally transitive and takes an object. Its most common use is literal, referring to hair or rope, though it can also describe separating something tangled or intertwined.