unzips
|un-zip|
/ˌʌnˈzɪp/
(unzip)
reverse zip action
Etymology
'unzips' originates from English, specifically the word 'unzip', where the prefix 'un-' meant 'reversal' or 'remove' and 'zip' was an imitative word meaning 'to move quickly' and later 'to fasten with a zipper'.
'unzip' was formed by adding the negative/reversing prefix 'un-' to the verb 'zip' (an imitative word from late 19th century). The sense 'undo a zipper' developed alongside the invention and spread of the 'zipper' in the early 20th century, and the verb followed this usage.
Initially it meant 'to undo a zipper or fastening,' and over time it extended metaphorically to computing as 'to decompress/extract a compressed file.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to open or undo a zipper or similar fastening (reverse the fastening action).
She unzips her jacket when she comes inside.
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Verb 2
to decompress or extract the contents of a compressed computer file (informal: to unzip a file).
He unzips the archive to view the images inside.
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Last updated: 2025/11/14 04:24