ravel

/'rævəl/

Definition

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").
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

Antonyms

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.

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