Unpopped

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing something, typically kernels of corn, that has not undergone the process to burst open and transform into popcorn; untouched or unused, remaining in its original sealed or compacted state; indicating a condition where an expected or normal expansion has not occurred
2. Characterizing items, often seeds or grains, that remain in their initial hard and unexpanded form due to lack of exposure to heat or pressure; remaining in a state prior to alteration or activation; not released from a confined or dormant condition
3. Referring to objects that are still intact before a physical or chemical change causes them to open or activate, commonly used for kernels before they pop; staying in a preserved, inactive condition; signifying something that is yet to undergo its expected transformation or reaction

Etymology: "Unpopped" is a plain compound: the prefix "un-", meaning "not," attached to "popped," the past participle of "pop." Its meaning follows directly from that pairing: a kernel of corn that has not yet burst open under heat is "unpopped," and the sense extends to anything that has not yet been set off or released from a dormant state. "Pop" itself is the older and more basic part of the story. Its use for the sudden bursting sound and the act of bursting is what gives "popped" its meaning, and the "un-" prefix simply reverses it. Because the word describes a state rather than an action, it is most often used for the leftover kernels at the bottom of a popcorn bowl.

Synonyms: unopened, unswelled, uncooked, unburst

Antonyms: popped, opened, burst, cooked