I. ˈra-vəl verb
( -eled or -elled ; -el·ing or rav·el·ling ˈrav-liŋ, ˈra-və-)
Etymology: Dutch rafelen, from rafel loose thread
Date: 1582
transitive verb
1.
a. : to separate or undo the texture of : unravel
b. : to undo the intricacies of : disentangle
2. : entangle , confuse
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to become entangled or confused
2. : to become unwoven, untwisted, or unwound : fray
3. : break up , crumble
• rav·el·er ˈrav-lər, ˈra-və- noun
• rav·el·ment ˈra-vəl-mənt noun
II. noun
Date: 1634
: an act or result of raveling: as
a. : something tangled
b. : something raveled out ; specifically : a loose thread