unravel

verb8

1. •
   To cause (something) to no longer be ravelled or tangled; to disentangle, to untangle.

   • Mother couldn’t unravel the ball of wool after the cat had played with it.
2. •
   (figurative) To separate the connected or united parts of (something); to throw (something) into disorder; to confound, to confuse, to disintegrate.

   • to unravel the broad consensus which was created
   • to unravel the compromise achieved in the treaty
3. •
   (figurative) Of a thing: to have its connected or united parts separated; to be thrown into disorder; to become confused or undone; to collapse.

   • In an Eternity, vvhat Scenes shall strike? / Adventures thicken? Novelties surprize? / VVhat VVebs of VVonder shall unravel, there? — 1744
4. •
   [with oneself] (figurative) To clear (something) from complication or difficulty; to investigate and solve (a mystery, a problem, etc.); to disentangle, to unfold, to work out.

   • You must unravell agen, and make your vvife / Beleeve you did but try her. — 1633
5. •
   To become no longer ravelled or tangled.
6. •
   To separate the threads of (something knitted or woven, such as clothing or fabric).

   • Stop playing with the seam of the tablecloth! You’ll unravel it.
7. •
   Of threads: to become separated from something knitted or woven, such as clothing or fabric; also, of something knitted or woven: to separate into threads; to come apart.

   • [T]he burning threads / Of woven cloud unravel in pale air: […] — 1818
8. •
   (figurative, no longer used) To reverse or undo (something); to annul, to negate.

   • For everie time thou admitst mee after, to thy / Pillovv, I'le strike of an hundred pound, / Till all the debts be unravel'd: […] — 1634