[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/untangle/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [U](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/u/) / untangle

# untangle

verb (untangle, untangles, untangled, untangling)

«untangle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To undo knots or twists in string, hair, wires and so on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#m1)
2. To make a confusing problem or story clear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life: untangle headphones, hair, fishing line, Christmas lights. In maths and stories: untangle a tricky problem step by step. Tells the reader someone is patiently sorting out a muddle.

### Examples

- Mum untangled the knots in my hair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x1)
- It took ages to untangle the fairy lights. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x2)
- Can you help me untangle my headphones? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x3)
- The detective untangled the mystery at last. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x4)
- Let's untangle this word problem by writing what we know. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x5)
- The fisherman untangled his line. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: untangled. Opposite: tangle. Takes «an»: «an untangled rope».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «untangle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/untangle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«untangle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/untangle.html) on Mova free.