Ravelling

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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 WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ravelling
       n : a bit of fiber that has become separated from woven fabric
           [syn: {raveling}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ravelling
       See {ravel}