ravel out
əl verb (used with object)
1.
to disentangle or unravel the threads or fibers of (a woven or knitted fabric, rope, etc.).
2.
to tangle or entangle.
3.
to involve; confuse; perplex.
4.
to make clear; unravel (often followed by out ).
verb (used without object)
5.
to become disjoined thread by thread or fiber by fiber; fray.
6.
to become tangled.
7.
to become confused or perplexed.
8.
(of a road surface) to lose aggregate.
00:10
Ravel out
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
noun
9.
a tangle or complication.
Origin:
1575–85; < Dutch rafelen
1575–85; < Dutch rafelen
Related forms
rav·el·er; especially British, rav·el·ler, noun
rav·el·ly, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To ravel out
Collins
World English Dictionary
ravel (ˈrævəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (usually foll by out) , (US) -els, -elling, -elled, -els, -eling, -eled | |
| 1. | to tangle (threads, fibres, etc) or (of threads, fibres, etc) to become entangled |
| 2. | ( |
| 3. | to disentangle or resolve: to ravel out a complicated story |
| 4. | to break up (a road surface) in patches or (of a road surface) to begin to break up; fret; scab |
| 5. | archaic to make or become confused or complicated |
| —n | |
| 6. | a tangle or complication |
| [C16: from Middle Dutch ravelen] | |
| 'raveller | |
| —n | |
| 'ravelly | |
| —adj | |
| Ravel (French ravɛl) | |
| —n | |
| Maurice (Joseph) (mɔris). 1875--1937, French composer, noted for his use of unresolved dissonances and mastery of tone colour. His works include Gaspard de la Nuit (1908) and Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) for piano, Boléro (1928) for orchestra, and the ballet Daphnis et Chloé (1912) | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ravel
1580s, "to untangle, unwind," also "to become tangled or confused," from Du. ravelen "to tangle, fray, unweave," from rafel "frayed thread." The seemingly contradictory senses of this word (ravel and unravel are both synonyms and antonyms) are reconciled by its roots in weaving and sewing: as threads
become unwoven, they get tangled.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
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