Main Entry: ¹rav·el

Pronunciation: \ˈra-vəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): rav·eled or rav·elled; rav·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, confuseintransitive 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