verb
ravel
RA-vuhl
verb
1
To tangle or complicate something.
"The kitten managed to ravel the ball of yarn into a knot."
2
To fray or come apart at the edges, as fabric does.
"The hem began to ravel after so many washes."
noun
1
A tangled, confusing knot or situation.
"The wires were left in a hopeless ravel behind the desk."
How to Use Ravel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishConfusingly, ravel can mean both to tangle something up AND to come apart/unravel — context decides which.
Common mistake
Ravel is one of English's rare contranyms (a word that can mean opposite things), so check context carefully before assuming which sense is meant.
Word Forms
raveled past tense, ravelled past tense, ravels plural, ravels singular
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The kitten managed to _____ the ball of yarn into a knot.
Etymology
Borrowed from Dutch ravelen/rafelen, meaning to tangle or fray; the exact origin beyond that is uncertain.