unravel
pronunciation
How to pronounce unravel in British English:
UK [ʌnˈrævl]
How to pronounce unravel in American English:
US [ʌnˈrævl]
-
- Verb:
- become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
- disentangle
- become undone
Word Origin
- unravel (v.)
- c. 1600 (transitive), from un- (2) + ravel (v.). Intransitive from 1640s. "The prefix is either reversive or intensive, according as ravel is taken to mean 'tangle' or 'untangle'" [Century Dictionary]. Related: Unravelled; unravelling; unravellment.
Example
- 1. But for outsiders it helps unravel the all-enwrapping shroud of secrecy .
- 2. Derivatives expose us banks to a european default , so the us banking system itself might unravel .
- 3. Mr netanyahu argued that even if a deal were possible , a nuclear-armed iran would unravel any agreements .
- 4. Researchers at the center have used ct scan technology to help unravel the mystery of its origins .
- 5. Ultimately it will take data from a combination of methods to help unravel the mystery , the experts said .