desdobro

Desdobro is a Portuguese noun meaning the act or result of unfolding, developing, or expanding something that was folded, closed, or complex. In everyday usage, it refers to the act of revealing more detail by expanding an idea, plan, or object; for example, o desdobro de um tema means the sequential exposition of its aspects.

In mathematics, design and crafts, desdobro denotes the process of transforming a three-dimensional figure into a two-dimensional net that can be folded to reconstruct the original object. It is used in geometry education, origami, and architectural drawing to study how surfaces can be laid out flat.

In linguistics and literary analysis, the term can describe the unfolding or expansion of meaning, narrative threads, or argumentative structure, such as the desdobro de temas or desdobro de um enredo.

In spiritualist and parapsychological contexts, especially in Brazilian Spiritism, desdobro or desdobramento refers to an alleged out-of-body experience in which the consciousness or "double" temporarily separates from the physical body. Proponents describe travel to other planes, interactions with guides or spirits, and personal insights; skeptics attribute it to dream phenomena, illusion, or memory processes. The phenomenon is often described as subjective and dependent on mental states, with safety or ethical considerations discussed by practitioners.

Etymology: from desdobrar, to unfold; des- (reverse) + dobrar (to fold). See also desdobramento, net (geometry), astral projection, lucid dreaming.