verb
ravel
RAV-uhl/ˈrævl/
To make something tangled or complicated.
The loose yarn ravels into a tangled mass.
Etymology
Dutch rafel meant a frayed thread. Loose threads can become tangled as fabric comes apart, a possible explanation for why ravel can mean both becoming entangled and coming untangled.
More examples
- He ravels the threads into a tangled mass.
- Each new secret ravels the plot more tightly.
- Their competing claims have raveled an already difficult dispute.
Forms
ravel · ravels · raveled · raveling
Similar words
- entangle
- Emphasizes becoming twisted together or involved in complications.
- complicate
- Complicate makes something harder to understand; ravel evokes threads becoming tangled.