Unravel: meaning, definitions and examples
🧶
unravel
[ ˌʌnˈræv.əl ]
to untangle
To separate the threads of a twisted, knitted, or woven piece of fabric; to disentangle or sort out the threads of a rope or a knot. To clarify or solve (something complicated or puzzling). To unravel can also mean to undo or destroy the complexity or intricacy of something.
Synonyms
clarify, resolve, untangle, unwind
Examples of usage
- He carefully unraveled the tangled yarn.
- She unraveled the mystery and found the solution.
- The detective unraveled the criminal's alibi.
- I need to unravel this complicated situation before making a decision.
a tangled mess
A tangled or jumbled mass of something, especially thread, yarn, or hair. Can also refer to a complicated or confusing situation that is difficult to solve or understand.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The unravel of wires behind the television was a nightmare.
- The political situation in the country is an unravel that needs to be addressed.
Translations
Translations of the word "unravel" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desvendar
- desenredar
- desfiar
🇮🇳 सुलझाना
- खोलना
- स्पष्ट करना
🇩🇪 entwirren
- enträtseln
- auflösen
🇮🇩 menguraikan
- memecahkan
- membuka
🇺🇦 розплутувати
- розгадувати
- з'ясовувати
🇵🇱 rozplątać
- rozwikłać
- rozwiązać
🇯🇵 解明する (kaimei suru)
- 解く (toku)
- ほどく (hodoku)
🇫🇷 démêler
- déchiffrer
- résoudre
🇪🇸 desenredar
- descifrar
- resolver
🇹🇷 çözmek
- açmak
- ortaya çıkarmak
🇰🇷 풀다 (pulda)
- 해결하다 (haegyeolhada)
- 밝히다 (balghida)
🇸🇦 حل (ḥall)
- فك (fakk)
- كشف (kashf)
🇨🇿 rozplést
- rozluštit
- vyřešit
🇸🇰 rozpliesť
- rozlúštiť
- vyriešiť
🇨🇳 解开 (jiěkāi)
- 破译 (pòyì)
- 解决 (jiějué)
🇸🇮 razvozlati
- razvozlati
- rešiti
🇮🇸 leysa upp
- ráða
- opna
🇰🇿 шешу
- тарқату
- айқындау
🇬🇪 განსხვავება (ganskhvaveba)
- ამოხსნა (amokhsna)
- გახსნა (gakhsna)
🇦🇿 həll etmək
- açmaq
- aydınlaşdırmaq
🇲🇽 desenredar
- descifrar
- resolver
Word origin
The word 'unravel' originated from Middle English 'unravellen', from Old Dutch 'ravellen', which means 'to tangle'. Over time, the prefix 'un-' was added to indicate the reversal of the action, leading to the current meaning of 'to untangle or clarify'. The term has been used since the 14th century in English literature and has evolved to symbolize the process of disentangling complexities or solving mysteries.