Literally:
* To release a ship or boat from its mooring: This means to detach the ship from its anchor or any other fixed point where it's tied up.
* To remove a boat from its dock: This is a more general term that encompasses the action of detaching the boat from any secure location, including docks, buoys, or even other boats.
Figuratively:
* To become detached from something familiar or secure: This meaning relates to a feeling of disorientation or loss of grounding. It can be used to describe someone who is emotionally detached from their past, their family, or their sense of identity.
* To become emotionally unstable or unpredictable: This is a more negative connotation, implying that someone has lost their moorings and is now adrift, vulnerable, and potentially dangerous.
Examples:
* Literal: The sailor unmoored the boat and set sail for the open sea.
* Figurative: After her parents' divorce, she felt unmoored and lost.
The best way to understand the meaning of "unmooring" is to look at the context in which it's used.