Ravel

/'rævəl/
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Thân thiện
Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To tangle, knot, or complicate: To cause threads, fibers, or a situation to become intertwined and confused.
    • To disentangle or unravel: To separate or undo threads, fibers, or a complex problem. (This meaning is less common and often appears with "out").

  2. Noun:

    • A tangle or complication: A confused mass or a state of disorder, especially in threads or a situation.
    • A loose thread: A single thread that has become undone from a fabric.
Examples of Usage
  • Verb (to tangle):
    • Be careful not to ravel the yarn when you wind it.
    • The mystery began to ravel into a more complex web of lies.
  • Verb (to disentangle - often as "ravel out"):
    • She tried to ravel out the knots in the fishing line.
    • The detective worked to ravel the truth from the conflicting testimonies.
  • Noun:
    • There was a ravel of string at the bottom of the drawer.
    • A single ravel appeared on the edge of the old tapestry.
Advanced Usage
  • "To ravel out": To disentangle or solve something complicated.
    • It took hours to ravel out the misunderstanding between them.
  • The phrase "the ravelled skein of life" is a literary expression referring to the complex and tangled nature of human existence.
Variants and Related Words
  • Unravel (verb): The more common word meaning to disentangle or solve. It is often, but not always, synonymous with .
    • Unravel the thread. / Unravel the mystery.
  • Ravelling / Ravelings (noun): Small, tangled threads or fibers that have come loose.
    • She brushed the ravellings from her sweater.
Synonyms
  • Tangle, entangle, knot, snarl, complicate (for the "to tangle" meaning).
  • Unravel, disentangle, untangle, solve (for the "to disentangle" meaning).
Antonyms
  • Unravel, disentangle, untangle, simplify (for the "to tangle" meaning).
  • Tangle, complicate, confuse (for the "to disentangle" meaning).
Notes on Usage
  • The verb is unique because it can mean both "to tangle" and "to untangle," though the "to tangle" meaning is more frequent. Context is essential for clarity.
  • In modern usage, is overwhelmingly preferred for the meaning "to disentangle or solve."
  • The noun form is less common in everyday speech.
Noun
  1. a row of unravelled stitches
    • she got a run in her stocking
  2. French composer and exponent of Impressionism (1875-1937)
Verb
  1. tangle or complicate
    • a ravelled story
  2. disentangle
    • can you unravel the mystery?

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