unravel

/ʌnˈrævəl/
verb
  1. To separate the threads of something knitted or woven, causing it to come apart.
    • She carefully began to unravel the old sweater to reuse the yarn.
    • The cat played with the ball of wool and started to unravel it across the floor.
    • He tried to fix the hole in his sock, but only made it unravel more.
  2. To solve or explain something that is mysterious or complicated.
    • Scientists are trying to unravel the secrets of the deep ocean.
    • The detective worked hard to unravel the mystery of the missing painting.
    • It took years for historians to unravel the truth behind the ancient legend.
  3. To fail or come apart, especially after a period of success or order.
    • The company's finances started to unravel after the CEO resigned.
    • Their carefully made plans began to unravel when the weather turned bad.
    • Without clear communication, the team's project quickly unraveled.