raveling

[ rav-uh-ling ]
/ ˈræv ə lɪŋ /

noun

something raveled out, as a thread drawn or separated from a knitted or woven fabric.

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Also especially British, rav·el·ling.

Origin of raveling

First recorded in 1650–60; ravel + -ing1

Words nearby raveling

rave, rave hook, rave-up, ravel, ravelin, raveling, ravelment, raven, raven, the, ravening, ravenna

Definition for raveling (2 of 2)

ravel
[ rav-uh l ]
/ ˈræv əl /

verb (used with object), rav·eled, rav·el·ing or (especially British) rav·elled, rav·el·ling.

verb (used without object), rav·eled, rav·el·ing or (especially British) rav·elled, rav·el·ling.

noun

a tangle or complication.

Origin of ravel

First recorded in 1575–85, ravel is from the Dutch word rafelen

OTHER WORDS FROM ravel

rav·el·er; especially British, rav·el·ler, nounrav·el·ly, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to raveling

unwind, loosen, disentangle, free, untangle, unravel, untwist, unweave, untwine, unsnarl, unbraid

Example sentences from the Web for raveling

British Dictionary definitions for raveling (1 of 2)

ravel
/ (ˈrævəl) /

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

to tangle (threads, fibres, etc) or (of threads, fibres, etc) to become entangled
(often foll by out) to tease or draw out (the fibres of a fabric or garment) or (of a garment or fabric) to fray out in loose ends; unravel
(tr usually foll by out) to disentangle or resolveto ravel out a complicated story
to break up (a road surface) in patches or (of a road surface) to begin to break up; fret; scab
archaic to make or become confused or complicated

noun

a tangle or complication

Derived forms of ravel

raveller, nounravelly, adjective

Word Origin for ravel

C16: from Middle Dutch ravelen

British Dictionary definitions for raveling (2 of 2)

Ravel
/ (French ravɛl) /

noun

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 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012