I. rav·el ˈravəl verb
( raveled or ravelled ; raveled or ravelled ; raveling or ravelling -v(ə)liŋ ; ravels )
Etymology: Dutch rafelen, from rafel loose thread; akin to Old High German ravo, rāvo beam, rafter, Old English ræfter — more at rafter
transitive verb
1.
a. : to let fall into a tangled mass (as the threads of a fabric after pulling it apart)
b. : to make intricate : entangle , involve
2. : to separate or undo the texture of : unravel , untwist , unwind , unweave — often used with out or sometimes with off
3. : to undo the intricacies of : make plain
intransitive verb
1. obsolete
a. : to become entangled or confused
b. : to make investigation or search
2. : to become untwisted, unwoven, or unwound : fray ; also : to become disentangled : become cleared of intricacy — often used with out
3. : to crumble or break up — used of the surface of a roadway when the road metal is no longer bonded and loose pieces are scattered about
4. : to fracture and partly cave : slough — used of ground about a mining drill hole
II. ravel noun
( -s )
: an act or result of raveling: as
a. : something (as a mass or situation) that is tangled : snarl
b. : something raveled out, torn, or frayed : a loose thread : raveling
III. ra·vel ˈrāvəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Scotland : railing
a wooden stair ravel
IV. rav·el ˈravəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: rave (III) + -el
: raddle 3