ravel
ravel — 動詞
- ravelpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ravelshe / she / it
- ravelledpast simple
- raveledpast simple
- ravelling-ing form
- raveling-ing form
1. to undo the threads of a tangled or knotted piece of material, separating them s
解開；拆散
將纏繞的線分開
to undo the threads of a tangled or knotted piece of material, separating them so they become single and loose again, or for threads or fabric to become undone in this way by themselves
Padma carefully raveled the tangled necklace chain using a small pin.
Padma 用一根小別針小心地解開纏繞的項鍊鏈條。
ravel + direct object + method/tool
The old woollen scarf began to ravel at the cuffs after years of daily use.
那條舊羊毛圍巾經過多年每日使用後，袖口處開始鬆散脫線。
intransitive: fabric ravels (comes undone)
Asher raveled the knotted fishing line strand by strand until it was usable again.
Asher 將打結的釣魚線一根一根拆散，直到可以再次使用。
A loose thread caught on a drawer handle and caused the whole seam to ravel.
一條鬆脫的線頭勾到了抽屜把手，導致整條縫線開始鬆開。
The designer raveled the silk threads from the old dress to reuse for embroidery.
服裝設計師將舊洋裝的絲線拆散，以便用於刺繡。
- unravel
more common synonym; 'unravel' is far more frequent in everyday English while 'ravel' is rarer and more literary
- disentangle
more formal; works for both threads and abstract situations
- untangle
more common in everyday speech; usually implies physical tangles
文法句型
ravel + noun phrase (transitive)
ravel (intransitive, especially of fabric/threads)
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive or middle-voice patterns (the fabric ravels easily). This sense often describes physical materials — thread, wool, rope, fabric — rather than abstract situations. Distinguish from UNRAVEL THREADS (verb/1) which is the physical undoing, versus COMPLICATE (verb/2) which is the opposite meaning of making things tangled.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a problem, situation, or relationship to become harder to understand or
使複雜；混亂
讓情況變得更難處理
to cause a problem, situation, or relationship to become harder to understand or deal with, or for something to grow more confused
The lawyer's confusing questions only served to ravel the case further.
律師那些令人困惑的問題只會讓案情更加複雜。
transitive: ravel + abstract noun (case/situation)
Esteban worried that his silence would ravel his relationship with his business partner.
Esteban 擔心他的沉默會讓合夥關係變得更加棘手。
The political disagreement raveled the peace negotiations until no one trusted anyone.
這場政治分歧使和平談判陷入混亂，到最後沒有人信任任何人。
Each new regulation seemed to ravel the already complex tax system beyond repair.
每一項新法規似乎都讓原本就已複雜的稅制更加難以收拾。
Without clear communication, the project plans began to ravel and nobody knew their role.
缺乏明確溝通的情況下，專案計畫開始變得混亂，沒有人知道自己的角色。
- complicate
far more common and neutral; 'ravel' is literary and rarer
- confuse
less formal; focuses on mental uncertainty rather than structural complexity
- entangle
can mean both literal and figurative entanglement; similar register to 'ravel'
文法句型
ravel + abstract noun (transitive)
ravel (intransitive, of situations)
用法筆記
This sense is the opposite of the first verb sense (UNRAVEL THREADS). Here 'ravel' means to make tangled or confused, rather than to untangle. Subject is usually an abstract noun (question, disagreement, regulation) rather than a person. Frequently used in formal or literary contexts; in everyday speech, 'complicate' is much more common.
常見錯誤
ravel — 名詞
1. the process or result of threads, fibres, or fabric becoming untangled and comin
解開；鬆散
紡織品解開的過程或結果
the process or result of threads, fibres, or fabric becoming untangled and coming apart, or of something being unravelled
The constant ravel of the cheap yarn during the knitting class frustrated everyone.
廉價毛線在編織課上不斷鬆散解開，讓所有人都很沮喪。
countable noun: a ravel (a process/result)
After the ravel of the tapestry's edge, the pattern became impossible to restore.
那幅掛毯邊緣散開之後，圖案便無法復原了。
Each ravel of the old scarf left loose coloured strands on the table.
舊圍巾每鬆散一次，桌上就會多出一堆彩色的鬆脫線段。
The careful ravel of the embroidery took longer than the original stitching did.
小心地將刺繡拆散所花的時間，比當初繡上去還久。
- unravelling
far more common; the everyday noun form of the same process
- fraying
specifically of fabric edges becoming worn, not of threads being deliberately separated
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. Most speakers use 'unravelling' instead of 'a ravel' for the noun form. This sense is closest to the verb sense UNRAVEL THREADS (verb/1).
2. a twisted, knotted, or confused mass of threads, hair, wires, or similar materia
糾結物
纏繞成團的線或頭髮
a twisted, knotted, or confused mass of threads, hair, wires, or similar material that is difficult to separate
The child's hair was a ravel of knots that took an hour to brush out.
那孩子的頭髮糾結成一團，她媽媽花了一小時才梳開。
a ravel of + noun phrase
Behind the old desk lay a ravel of dusty cables and tangled telephone wires.
舊書桌後面是一團沾滿灰塵的電線和纏繞的電話線。
The cleaner found a ravel of discarded wool in the bottom of the storage box.
清潔人員在收納箱底部發現一團被丟棄的毛線。
Stephanie tried sorting through the ravel of ribbons but gave up and bought new ones.
Stephanie 試圖整理那團糾結的緞帶，但最後放棄了，直接買新的。
用法筆記
Always used with an 'of'-phrase specifying what is tangled (a ravel of cables/hair/wool). This sense aligns with the 'tangled/complicated' side of the verb, though it describes concrete tangles, not abstract ones.
3. loose threads or fibres that have come away from a woven or knitted fabric, ofte
散線；線頭
從編織物拆下的鬆脫線段
loose threads or fibres that have come away from a woven or knitted fabric, often collected after unravelling a piece of material
The basket on the shelf was filled with colourful ravels from the old tapestry.
架子上的籃子裡裝滿了從舊掛毯拆下來的彩色線頭。
plural: ravels (separated threads)
Wei gathered the silk ravels from the old dress and stored them for craft projects.
Wei 將拆解洋裝後取得的絲線收集起來，留待日後手工藝品使用。
The tailor collected every ravel of thread from the floor to keep the workroom tidy.
裁縫師將地板上的每一段線頭都撿起來，以保持工作室整潔。
Padma used spare ravels from the curtains to patch holes in the cushion covers.
Padma 用窗簾拆下來的多餘線段來修補靠墊套上的破洞。
用法筆記
Typically used in the plural (ravels) to refer to several loose strands. This sense corresponds to the OUTCOME of the verb sense UNRAVEL THREADS — the separated threads are themselves called ravels. Distinguish from TANGLED MASS (noun/2) where the threads are still twisted together.