Definition

A piece of thread or fiber that has come loose from a woven fabric or material.

Example

The raveling of the sweater made it look old and worn out.

Conversation

I noticed some raveling on your sweater, is it old?

Yeah, it's been through a lot, but I still love wearing it.

I guess that's what makes it special, even with the raveling.

Exactly! It has so many memories attached to it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Raveling → The word 'raveling' comes from the verb 'ravel', which is derived from the Middle English 'ravel(en)', meaning to tangle or to unravel. The root 'ravel' itself is thought to be related to the Old English 'refelan', meaning to entangle or to snare. The suffix '-ing' indicates the action or process. Thus, 'raveling' refers to the process of tangling or becoming entangled.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ravel' as meaning to 'tangle' and remember that 'raveling' describes the action of becoming tangled.

Visually Confused Words