unravelling

Unravelling (British English) or unraveling (American English) is the process of undoing or disentangling something that is tangled or woven. Literally, it can describe pulling apart threads or fabric. Figuratively, it refers to the gradual clarification of a problem or the disintegration of a plan, narrative, or system as its components come apart or become understood.

Origins and usage: The verb derives from ravel, with a negative prefix un-. Ravel has two related senses: to tangle and to untangle, and unraveling toggles between these meanings depending on context.

Contexts: In textiles, unraveling denotes fabric threads coming loose, often due to wear or poor construction. In science and engineering, unraveling describes molecules or structures unfolding under heat or stress. In literature and everyday speech, it describes a plot or mystery becoming clear, or a relationship or organization collapsing as factors are revealed.

Examples: The sweater began to unravel at the seam. Investigators watched the clues unravel the case. The protein undergoes unfolding under denaturing conditions, sometimes described as unraveling. Note: Spelling varies by region; both forms are correct depending on the variety of English.