noun
Physical tangling of threads, hair, ropes, etc. Often used with verbs like できる or をほどく.
髪の毛にもつれができてしまった。
My hair got tangled.
釣り糸のもつれをほどくのに時間がかかった。
It took time to untangle the fishing line.
noun
complication; trouble; snag
Figurative use for complicated situations, relationship troubles, or procedural snags. Often appears as もつれが生じる or もつれを招く.
交渉のもつれで契約が遅れた。
The contract was delayed due to complications in the negotiations.
二人の間にもつれが生じた。
Trouble arose between the two of them.
もつれ is the noun form of the verb もつれる (to get tangled, to become complicated). もつれ refers to the resulting tangle or complication.
Noun form of the verb もつれる, of native Japanese origin. The kanji 縺 is a rare, non-jōyō character used specifically for tangling.