unravel

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | 700+ words | Copyright

un·rav·el / ˌənˈravəl/ • v. (-rav·eled , -rav·el·ing ; Brit. -rav·elled, -rav·el·ling) [tr.] 1. undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads). ∎ [intr.] (of twisted, knitted, or woven threads) become undone: part of the crew neck had unraveled. ∎ unwind (something wrapped around another object): he unraveled the cellophane from a small cigar. 2. investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling): they were attempting to unravel the cause of death. ∎ [intr.] begin to fail or collapse: his painstaking diplomacy of the last eight months could quickly unravel.

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"unravel." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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