• ravel

ravel

views updated Jun 11 2018

rav·el / ˈravəl/ • v. (rav·eled , rav·el·ing ; Brit. rav·el·led, rav·el·ling) [tr.] 1. (ravel something out) untangle or unravel something: Davy had finished raveling out his herring net | fig. sleep raveled out the tangles of his mind. 2. confuse or complicate (a question or situation).• n. rare a tangle, cluster, or knot: a lovely yellow ravel of sunflowers.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

ravel

views updated May 14 2018

ravel (dial.) entangle, become entangled XVI; unravel XVII. poss. — Du. ravelen tangle, fray out, unweave.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Ravel

views updated Jun 27 2018

Ravel

a tangle or complication.

Examples : ravel of waters (book title by G. Jenkins); political ravels, 1853.

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms

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