unravel
/ˌʌnˈrævəl/verb
(unravelled, unravelling) ( <美> unraveled, unraveling) with obj.
1
- undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads)解开, 松开（缠绕、编织物等）。
1.1
- no obj.(of twisted, knitted, or woven threads) become undone（缠绕、编织物等）散开; 松开：
part of the crew neck had unravelled.
（毛衣）圆领部分脱线了。
1.2
- unwind (something wrapped around another object)打开, 剥开（包裹物）：
he unravelled the cellophane from a small cigar.
他剥开了小雪茄上的玻璃纸。
2
- investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling)弄清; 解决; 阐明（复杂问题）：
they were attempting to unravel the cause of death.
他们试图查明死因。
2.1
- no obj. begin to fail or collapse开始崩溃; 开始瓦解; 开始失败：
his painstaking diplomacy of the last eight months could quickly unravel.
他八个月来的辛苦外交努力可在转眼间化为泡影。