unravel

unravel
Date: 1603 transitive verb 1. a. to disengage or separate the threads of ; disentangle b. to cause to come apart by or as if by separating the threads of 2. to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of ; clear up <
unravel a mystery
>
intransitive verb to become unraveled

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Unravel — Un*rav el, v. t. [1st pref. un (intensive) + ravel.] [1913 Webster] 1. To disentangle; to disengage or separate the threads of; as, to unravel a stocking. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, to clear from complication or difficulty; to unfold; to solve; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Unravel — Un*rav el, v. i. To become unraveled, in any sense. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • unravel — index ascertain, clarify, construe (translate), detect, discover, disengage, disentangle, elucidate …   Law dictionary

  • unravel — (v.) c.1600, from UN (Cf. un ) (2) + RAVEL (Cf. ravel) …   Etymology dictionary

  • unravel — *solve, resolve, unfold, decipher Analogous words: disentangle, untangle, *extricate: elucidate, explicate, interpret, *explain, expound …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • unravel — has inflected forms unravelled, unravelling in BrE and usually unraveled, unraveling in AmE. In current English it is likely to have a figurative meaning, either (1) ‘to solve (a mystery or puzzle)’ or (2) in intransitive use, ‘to fail or… …   Modern English usage

  • unravel — ► VERB (unravelled, unravelling; US unraveled, unraveling) 1) undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads); unwind. 2) become undone. 3) investigate and solve (a mystery or puzzle). 4) begin to fail or collapse …   English terms dictionary

  • unravel — [un rav′əl] vt. unraveled or unravelled, unraveling or unravelling 1. to undo (something woven or tangled); untangle or separate the threads of 2. to make clear of confusion or involvement; solve vi. to become unraveled unravelment n …   English World dictionary

  • Unravel — Infobox Song Name = Unravel Type = Song Artist = Björk alt Artist = Album = Homogenic Published = Released = track no = 3 Recorded = Genre = Ambient, Electronic, Alternative Length = 3:21 Writer = Björk Composer = Björk Label = Producer = Tracks …   Wikipedia

  • unravel — [[t]ʌnræ̱v(ə)l[/t]] unravels, unravelling, unravelled (in AM, use unraveling, unraveled) 1) VERB If something such as a plan or system unravels, it breaks up or begins to fail. His government began to unravel because of a banking scandal... When… …   English dictionary

  • unravel — UK [ʌnˈræv(ə)l] / US verb Word forms unravel : present tense I/you/we/they unravel he/she/it unravels present participle unravelling past tense unravelled past participle unravelled 1) [transitive] to understand something complicated by thinking… …   English dictionary

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