释义 |
unˈcap, v. [un-2 4.] 1. trans. To remove the cap from (the head or a person). Also absol.
1566Painter Pal. Pleas. li. 219 All they that weare hornes, be pardoned to weare their capps... For they be so sweete and pleasaunt, as they vncappe no man. 1598Florio, Sberettare, to vncap, to put off hat or cap. 1836L. Hunt Poems, Bodryddan 98 The gard'ner..Uncapp'd his bent old silver hair. 1875H. James Transatlantic Sk. 247, I felt really like uncapping, with a kind of reverence. 2. To divest (a thing) of a cap or covering.
1688R. Holme Armoury iii. xix. (Roxb.) 170/2 The Words of command for the pistolls. 1. Vncape your pistolls. 2. Draw forth your pistoll. 1711Milit. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4), Uncap your Cartridges, Is to take off the Top of the Paper, which is folded down at the End, that so the Powder may fall loose to the Touch-hole. 1750W. Ellis Mod. Husbandm. VI. i. v. 28 Farmers are emboldened to let their wheat stand..in the field without uncapping. 1859Jephson & Reeve Brittany 88 Mr. Taylor was watching eagerly for a sign from me to uncap the lenses. 1859F. A. Griffiths Artill. Man. (1862) 112 No. 3 loads, assists to ram home, elevates, uncaps fuze when in bore.
Add:[2.] b. fig. To reveal or release (an emotion, etc.).
1980Business Week 16 June 74/3 (headline) Coke uncaps a surprise. 1982Time 1 Feb. 59/1 Last week he uncapped his most stunning announcement. 1985Chicago Tribune 21 Dec. 10/1 Top diplomats rarely allow their tempers to flare in public. They prefer to uncap their pique in icy words and stern facades. 1986Washington Post 17 May a15/4 Duvalier's abrupt departure..uncapped many tensions that have seethed for decades below the surface in Haiti. 3. U.K. Finance. To remove an upper limit or restriction on the value of (a currency).
1978Economist 6 May 22/2 Last summer's great inflow of foreign money, which eventually forced the authorities to uncap sterling, has not all flowed out again. 1984Financial Times 9 May 22/2 The European monetary authorities appear to have decided to uncap the dollar for the time being. 1988Times 7 Apr. 21/2 The decision was taken on March 4 to ‘uncap’ sterling by removing the unofficial DM3 ceiling. 1988Observer 10 Apr. 58 (headline) How Thatcher uncapped the {pstlg}. |