raveling

[ rav-uh-ling ]

/ ˈræv ə lɪŋ /

noun

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

Words nearby raveling

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

Also especially British, rav·el·ling.

Origin of raveling

First recorded in 1650–60; ravel + -ing¹

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.

to disentangle or unravel the threads or fibers of (a woven or knitted fabric, rope, etc.).

to tangle or entangle.

to involve; confuse; perplex.

to make clear; unravel (often followed by out).

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

to become disjoined thread by thread or fiber by fiber; fray.

to become tangled.

to become confused or perplexed.

(of a road surface) to lose aggregate.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for raveling

He'd been raveling off his pants for more splices until he blushed to look at himself.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
By raveling off about four inches from each leg he got enough cotton thread to patch the other two wicks with.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
In dry climates, a layer six inches thick will be adequate if it can be kept from raveling.
American Rural Highways|T. R. Agg
We have learned that our dish towels had to be hemmed because of the raveling of material.
Clothing and Health|Helen Kinne

These are the two who walked that afternoon towards Raveling.
Parkhurst Boys|Talbot Baines Reed

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

raveling

noun

Words related to raveling

Words nearby raveling

Origin of raveling

Definition for raveling (2 of 2)

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

Origin of ravel

OTHER WORDS FROM ravel

Examples from the Web for raveling

British Dictionary definitions for raveling (1 of 2)

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

noun

Derived forms of ravel

Word Origin for ravel

British Dictionary definitions for raveling (2 of 2)

noun