ravel
/ˈrævəl/
noun
- A loose thread or a tangled mass of fibers.
- She picked a ravel of blue thread off her jacket before the interview.
- A ravel of wool caught on the bush as the sheep passed by.
- The old blanket had several ravels that needed to be trimmed.
verb
- To untangle, separate, or unwind the threads of something woven or knotted.
- She carefully began to ravel the tangled yarn from the sweater.
- It took hours to ravel the old fishing net that had been stored in a ball.
- The sailor tried to ravel the knot in the rope before the storm hit.
- To become untangled or unwound; to fray or come apart at the edges.
- The hem of her dress began to ravel after being caught on the fence.
- If you wash that delicate fabric too roughly, it will ravel at the seams.
- Over time, the edges of the rug started to ravel from constant foot traffic.
- To clarify or solve a complex problem or mystery; to unravel.
- It took the team months to ravel the technical issues in the software.
- The historian tried to ravel the conflicting accounts of the ancient battle.
- The detective worked tirelessly to ravel the confusing clues in the case.