ravel

Ravel is to tangle, or to complicate something like a question or situation.

(verb)

  1. When you tangle a handful of cable cords, this is an example of when you ravel.
  2. When someone asks you a question and you give a wandering and confusing answer that only complicates matters, this is an example of when you ravel.

The definition of a ravel is a cluster, tangle or knot.

(noun)

A balled up, tangled knot of Christmas decorations is an example of a ravel.

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See ravel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb raveled or ravelled, raveling or ravelling

  1. Now Rare to make complicated or tangled: parts of his argument were all raveled up
  2. to separate the parts, esp. threads, of; untwist; unweave; unravel
  3. to make clear; disentangle

Origin: MDu ravelen (Du rafelen), akin to LowG rabbeln, Dan dial. vrøvle: for IE base see rhapsody

intransitive verb

  1. to become separated into its parts, esp. threads; become unwoven; fray (out)
  2. Archaic to become complicated or tangled

noun

  1. a raveled part in a fabric; raveling
  2. a tangled mass or complication

Related Forms:

Ravel, Maurice (Joseph) 1875-1937; Fr. composer

See ravel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb rav·eled also rav·elled, rav·el·ing also rav·el·ling, rav·els also rav·els
verb, transitive
  1. To separate the fibers or threads of (cloth, for example); unravel.
  2. To clarify by separating the aspects of.
  3. To tangle or complicate.
verb, intransitive
  1. To become separated into its component threads; unravel or fray.
  2. To become tangled or confused.
noun
  1. A raveling.
  2. A broken or discarded thread.
  3. A tangle.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete Dutch ravelen

Origin: , from ravel, loose thread

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Related Forms:

  • ravˈel·er, ravˈel·ler noun

French composer of impressionistic operas, ballets, orchestral works, such as Boléro (1928), and piano works, including Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917).

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