unglue

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English un-

Proto-Indo-European *gleyH-

Proto-Indo-European *glóh₁ytn̥

Proto-Italic *gloiten

Latin glūten

Late Latin glūs

Old French glubor.

Middle English glew

English glue

English unglue

From un- + glue.

Verb

unglue (third-person singular simple present unglues, present participle ungluing or (uncommon) unglueing, simple past and past participle unglued)

1. to separate that which was held by glue

   we had to use warm water and solvent to unglue all the joints we put in yesterday.

2. to cease to adhere to or follow attentively

   parents are looking for new ways to unglue their children from their screens

Synonyms

• deglutinate

Translations

To separate that which was held by glue

• German: ablösen (de)
• Ukrainian: відкле́ювати impf (vidkléjuvaty), відкле́їти pf (vidkléjity)

To cease to follow attentively

• German: losreißen (de)