unravel

verb

🔊/ʌnˈrævl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they unravel	🔊/ʌnˈrævl/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævl/
he / she / it unravels	🔊/ʌnˈrævlz/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævlz/
past simple unravelled	🔊/ʌnˈrævld/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævld/
past participle unravelled	🔊/ʌnˈrævld/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævld/
(US English) past simple unraveled	🔊/ʌnˈrævld/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævld/
(US English) past participle unraveled	🔊/ʌnˈrævld/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævld/
-ing form unravelling	🔊/ʌnˈrævlɪŋ/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævlɪŋ/
(US English) -ing form unraveling	🔊/ʌnˈrævlɪŋ/ 🔊/ʌnˈrævlɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] unravel (something) if you unravel threads that are twisted, woven or knitted, or if they unravel, they become separated（把缠或织在一起的线）解开，拆散，松开
- I unravelled the string and wound it into a ball.我把绳子解开并绕成一个球。🔊🔊
[intransitive] (of a system, plan, relationship, etc.系统、计划、关系等) to start to fail or no longer stay together as a whole解体；崩溃；瓦解Topics Difficulty and failurec2
[transitive, intransitive] unravel (something) to explain something that is difficult to understand or is mysterious; to become clearer or easier to understand阐释；说明；澄清；变得清楚易懂
- The discovery will help scientists unravel the mystery of the Ice Age.这一发现将有助于科学家揭开冰期的奥秘。🔊🔊
Extra Examples
- a complicated relationship that is difficult to unravel难以解开的复杂关系
- Gradually, the mystery began to unravel.谜团逐渐解开。