untangle — to free something from a tangled or knotted state; to make something clear or understandable by separating its parts
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to free something from a tangled or knotted state; to make something clear or understandable by separating its parts
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈtæŋɡəl/
Example Sentences
- It's not easy to untangle the complicated legal issues in this case.
- My earphones get tangled every single time, so I spend five minutes untangling them before I can listen to music.
- The detective had to untangle a web of lies before finding the real culprit.
untangle
VERB[/ʌnˈtæŋɡəl/]
to free something from a tangled or knotted state; to make something clear or understandable by separating its parts
She patiently tries to untangle the mess of Christmas lights before decorating the tree.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'tangle' (of Scandinavian origin, meaning to twist together) combined with the prefix 'un-' meaning reversal of an action.
Breakdown
un- (reversal, opposite of) + tangle (to twist together, knot)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“It's not easy to untangle the complicated legal issues in this case.”
“My earphones get tangled every single time, so I spend five minutes untangling them before I can listen to music.”
“The detective had to untangle a web of lies before finding the real culprit.”
“After the cat played with the yarn, it took my grandmother an entire afternoon to untangle it.”
📚Related Words
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