ravel

/'rævəl/

Friendly

Explanation of the Word "Ravel"

Part of Speech:
- Verb: To ravel means to tangle or complicate something, like a story or a situation. It can also mean to untangle something that is knotted or twisted.
- Noun: Ravel can refer to a row of unraveled stitches, often seen in knitting or sewing.

Usage Instructions

When using "ravel" as a verb, you can use it in both a literal and figurative sense:

Advanced Usage

• Disentangle: When you ravel something, you can also "unravel" or "disentangle" it. This means to sort it out or make it clear.
  • Example: "Can you unravel the mystery behind the missing painting?"

Different Meanings

• Ravel (Noun): Refers to a series of unraveled or loose stitches in sewing or knitting.

  • Example: "She noticed a ravel in her favorite sweater."

• Ravel (Verb): To complicate or make more intricate rather than simply untangling.

  • Example: "His explanations only seemed to ravel the issue further."

Word Variants

• Unravel: This is the opposite of ravel and means to untangle or solve a problem.
  • Example: "She worked hard to unravel the mystery of the missing keys."

Synonyms

• Tangle
• Complicate
• Entangle
• Disentangle (opposite)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• Ravel up: To become tangled or complicated.
  • Example: "The story began to ravel up, making it hard to follow."

Summary

"Ravel" is a versatile word primarily used as a verb to describe the act of tangling or complicating, and it can also refer to unraveled stitches when used as a noun. It has related terms like "unravel," which refers to the process of untangling or clarifying.

Academic

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?

Synonyms

• run
• ladder
• Ravel
• Maurice Ravel
• tangle
• knot
• unravel
• ravel out