ripple1

[rip-uh l] /ˈrɪp əl/
verb (used without object), rippled, rippling.
1.
(of a liquid surface) to form small waves or undulations, as water agitated by a breeze.
2.
to flow with a light rise and fall or ruffling of the surface.
3.
(of a solid surface) to form or have small undulations, ruffles, or folds.
4.
(of sound) to undulate or rise and fall in tone, inflection, or magnitude.
verb (used with object), rippled, rippling.
5.
to form small waves or undulations on; agitate lightly.
6.
to mark as if with ripples; give a wavy form to.
noun
7.
a small wave or undulation, as on water.
8.
any similar movement or appearance; a small undulation or wave, as in hair.
9.
a small rapid.
10.
Geology, ripple mark.
11.
a sound, as of water flowing in ripples:
a ripple of laughter.
Origin
1660-70; origin uncertain
Related forms
rippleless, adjective
ripplingly, adverb
Synonyms
1. wave, undulate, purl. 5. ruffle, curl, dimple. 7. wavelet, ruffling. See wave.

ripple2

[rip-uh l] /ˈrɪp əl/
noun
1.
a toothed or comblike device for removing seeds or capsules from flax, hemp, etc.
verb (used with object), rippled, rippling.
2.
to remove the seeds or capsules from (flax or hemp) with a ripple.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English ripel; cognate with Dutch repel, German Riffel
Examples from the web for ripple
  • For such a tidal wave of a disease, it is astonishing how subtle the first ripple of trouble can be.
  • It's a bad time for peer-review science and the effect of public opinion will ripple through the other disciplines.
  • She started back, a shudder ran through her frame as a ripple on the face of the still water when a sudden breeze sweeps over it.
  • The subsequent ripple of feedback suggested the influence of political communication over social networks.
  • Unfortunately, that has ripple effects throughout the legal economy.
  • Because of this concentration, a supply disruption in even one place can ripple through the food market worldwide.
  • Piracy is the maritime ripple effect of anarchy on land.
  • The result has sent a ripple of excitement through the physics community.
  • These disparities in turn have extraordinary ripple effects.
  • Certainly there is today not a ripple on the ideological surface.
British Dictionary definitions for ripple

ripple1

/ˈrɪpəl/
noun
1.
a slight wave or undulation on the surface of water
2.
a small wave or undulation in fabric, hair, etc
3.
a sound reminiscent of water flowing quietly in ripples: a ripple of laughter
4.
(electronics) an oscillation of small amplitude superimposed on a steady value
5.
(US & Canadian) another word for riffle (sense 4)
6.
another word for ripple mark
verb
7.
(intransitive) to form ripples or flow with a rippling or undulating motion
8.
(transitive) to stir up (water) so as to form ripples
9.
(transitive) to make ripple marks
10.
(intransitive) (of sounds) to rise and fall gently: her laughter rippled through the air
Derived Forms
rippler, noun
rippling, adjective
ripplingly, adverb
ripply, adjective
Word Origin
C17: perhaps from rip1

ripple2

/ˈrɪpəl/
noun
1.
a special kind of comb designed to separate the seed from the stalks in flax, hemp, or broomcorn
verb
2.
(transitive) to comb with this tool
Derived Forms
rippler, noun
Word Origin
C14: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch repelen, Middle High German reffen to ripple
Word Origin and History for ripple
v.

early 15c., "to crease;" 1660s, "to present a ruffled surface," of unknown origin, perhaps a frequentative of rip (v.). Transitive sense "cause to ripple" is from 1786. Related: Rippled; rippling.

n.

"very small wave," 1798, from earlier meaning "stretch of shallow, rippling water" (1755), from ripple (v.). Meaning "mark or movement suggestive of a ripple" is from 1843. Meaning "ice cream streaked with colored syrup" first attested 1939, so called from its appearance. As the name of a brand of inexpensive wine sold by E&J Gallo Winery, from 1960 to 1984. Ripple effect is from 1950.

Slang definitions & phrases for ripple

ripple

noun

A try; an attempt; crack, rip, shot: I'll never figure out how these pieces fit, so why don't you have a ripple?

Related Terms

give something a shot, have a crack at something

[origin uncertain; perhaps fr rip in the sense of a strong action, attempt, or blow; perhaps fr 1800s make a riffle or ripple, ''to succeed, make it,'' based on crossing or getting through dangerous rapids in a river]