ravel
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rav·el
(răv′əl)v. rav·eled, rav·el·ing, rav·els also rav·elled or rav·el·ling
v.tr.
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.
v.intr.
1. To become separated into its component threads; unravel or fray.
2. To become tangled or confused.
n.
1. A raveling.
2. A broken or discarded thread.
3. A tangle.
[Obsolete Dutch ravelen, from ravel, loose thread.]
rav′el·er, rav′el·ler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ravel
(ˈrævəl)vb, -els, -elling or -elled, -els, -eling or -eled
1. to tangle (threads, fibres, etc) or (of threads, fibres, etc) to become entangled
2. (often foll by out) to tease or draw out (the fibres of a fabric or garment) or (of a garment or fabric) to fray out in loose ends; unravel
3. (usually foll by: out) to disentangle or resolve: to ravel out a complicated story.
4. to break up (a road surface) in patches or (of a road surface) to begin to break up; fret; scab
5. archaic to make or become confused or complicated
n
a tangle or complication
[C16: from Middle Dutch ravelen]
ˈraveller, ˈraveler n
ˈravelly adj
Ravel
(French ravɛl)n
(Biography) Maurice (Joseph) (mɔris). 1875–1937, French composer, noted for his use of unresolved dissonances and mastery of tone colour. His works include Gaspard de la Nuit (1908) and Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) for piano, Boléro (1928) for orchestra, and the ballet Daphnis et Chloé (1912)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
rav•el
(ˈræv əl)v. -eled, -el•ing (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling, v.t.
1. to disentangle the threads or fibers of; unravel.
2. to make clear; unravel.
3. to entangle; enmesh; confuse.
v.i. 4. to become unwound; fray.
5. Obs. to become tangled or confused.
n. 6. a tangle or complication.
[1575–85; < Dutch rafelen]
rav′el•ment, n.
Ra•vel
(rəˈvɛl)n.
Maurice Joseph, 1875–1937, French composer.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ravel
a tangle or complication.Examples: ravel of waters (book title by G. Jenkins); political ravels, 1853.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ravel
Past participle: ravelled
Gerund: ravelling
| Imperative |
|---|
| ravel |
| ravel |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  Ravel - French composer and exponent of Impressionism (1875-1937) |
| 2. | ravel - a row of unravelled stitches; "she got a run in her stocking" | |
| Verb | 1. |  ravel - disentangle; "can you unravel the mystery?" |
| 2. | ravel - tangle or complicate; "a ravelled story" interlace, intertwine, lace, twine, enlace, entwine - spin,wind, or twist together; "intertwine the ribbons"; "Twine the threads into a rope"; "intertwined hearts" unknot, unpick, unravel, unscramble, untangle - become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of; "unravel the thread" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
ravel
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.