Dictionary-Definition.com :: Ravel definition

Definition of 'Ravel'

noun

French composer and exponent of Impressionism (1875-1937) [syn: Ravel, Maurice Ravel]

noun

A row of unravelled stitches; "she got a run in her stocking" [syn: run, ladder, ravel]

verb

Disentangle; "can you unravel the mystery?" [syn: ravel, unravel, ravel out] [ant: knot, ravel, tangle]

verb

Tangle or complicate; "a ravelled story" [syn: ravel, tangle, knot] [ant: ravel, ravel out, unknot, unpick, unravel, unscramble, untangle]

From: GCIDE

Ravel \Rav"el\ (r[a^]v"'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled (-'ld) or Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling.] [OD. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln.]
1. To separate or undo the texture of; to unravel; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; -- often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a stocking. [1913 Webster]
Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle. [1913 Webster]
3. To pull apart, as the threads of a texture, and let them fall into a tangled mass; hence, to entangle; to make intricate; to involve. [1913 Webster]
What glory's due to him that could divide Such raveled interests? has the knot untied? --Waller. [1913 Webster]
The faith of very many men seems a duty so weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses! --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Ravel \Rav"el\, v. i.
1. To become untwisted or unwoven; to be disentangled; to be relieved of intricacy. [1913 Webster]
2. To fall into perplexity and confusion. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Till, by their own perplexities involved, They ravel more, still less resolved. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
3. To make investigation or search, as by picking out the threads of a woven pattern. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
The humor of raveling into all these mystical or entangled matters. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]