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ripple
1[ rip-uhl ]
verb (used without object)
- (of a liquid surface) to form small waves or undulations, as water agitated by a breeze.
Synonyms: , ,
- to flow with a light rise and fall or ruffling of the surface.
- (of a solid surface) to form or have small undulations, ruffles, or folds.
- (of sound) to undulate or rise and fall in tone, inflection, or magnitude.
verb (used with object)
- to form small waves or undulations on; agitate lightly.
Synonyms: , ,
- to mark as if with ripples; give a wavy form to.
noun
- a small wave or undulation, as on water.
Synonyms: ,
- any similar movement or appearance; a small undulation or wave, as in hair.
- a small rapid.
- Geology. ripple mark.
- a sound, as of water flowing in ripples:
a ripple of laughter.
ripple
2[ rip-uhl ]
noun
- a toothed or comblike device for removing seeds or capsules from flax, hemp, etc.
verb (used with object)
- to remove the seeds or capsules from (flax or hemp) with a ripple.
ripple
1/ ˈɪə /
noun
- a slight wave or undulation on the surface of water
- a small wave or undulation in fabric, hair, etc
- a sound reminiscent of water flowing quietly in ripples
a ripple of laughter
- electronics an oscillation of small amplitude superimposed on a steady value
- another word for riffle
- another word for ripple mark
verb
- intr to form ripples or flow with a rippling or undulating motion
- tr to stir up (water) so as to form ripples
- tr to make ripple marks
- intr (of sounds) to rise and fall gently
her laughter rippled through the air
ripple
2/ ˈɪə /
noun
- a special kind of comb designed to separate the seed from the stalks in flax, hemp, or broomcorn
verb
- tr to comb with this tool
Derived Forms
- ˈ, noun
- ˈԲ, adverb
- ˈ, adjective
- ˈԲ, adjective
- ˈ, noun
Other Word Forms
- p· adjective
- pԲ· adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of ripple1
Origin of ripple2
Word History and Origins
Origin of ripple1
Origin of ripple2
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC's culture and external reputation."
The slowdown is expected to have a ripple effect at the port, though Seroka said he didn’t envision “mass layoffs.”
“Oohs” rippled through the class as students began to kneel down in position to begin the choreography.
It lives in the ripple effect of ballpark excess.
Advocates for the entertainment industry have argued a similar case, saying the loss of local film and television shoots is having a ripple effect on the economy — and weakening the city’s tax base.
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More About Ripple
doesripple mean?
A ripple is a small wave, ruffle, or wrinkle on the surface of something, such as water, fabric, clouds, or hair.
A raindrop causes ripples in a puddle. A soft gust of wind can cause ripples on the surface of a lake, on the surface of a sheet hanging from a clothesline, or through the tall grasses in the meadow. Ripples aren’t typically breaks in the surface where they appear—they are disturbances that change its shape momentarily.
The word can also be applied to waves or wrinkles involving intangible or abstract things, such as ripples of cause and effect. Much like the ripples that result from tossing a stone into a pond, one action causes many other things to happen in a kind of chain reaction known as a ripple effect.
Ripple can also refer to a cascading sound, like that of rippling water, as in a ripple of laughter.
More specifically, ripple can refer to a swirl of a particular ingredient in ice cream, such as caramel or chocolate. There are even some flavors whose name indicates what the ripple consists of, such as butterscotch ripple.
Ripple is also used as a verb meaning to form or cause such waves, ruffles, or wrinkles, as in The wind rippled the surface of the river. It can also mean to gently flow or rise and fall.
Things with ripples in them can be described as rippled or ripply.
Example: I like to throw rocks into the still pond and see how far the ripples extend out.
Where doesripple come from?
The first records of the word ripple in reference to small waves or wrinkles come from the 1600s. It may derive from the verb rip, but its origin is uncertain.
The ripples that appear in a flat surface of water when you throw a pebble into it are often used as a metaphor for the effects of our actions in life—the ones that extend out beyond where we can observe them. Relatedly, reality is sometimes depicted as “fabric” that can be effected and rippled in this way.
Did you know ... ?
are some other forms of ripple?
- rippling (continuous tense verb, adjective)
- ripply (adjective)
are some synonyms for ripple?
are some words that share a root or word element with ripple?
are some words that often get used in discussing ripple?
How isripple used in real life?
The word ripple is most commonly used in the context of small waves on surfaces like water, but it can be used in many different situations.
Dog, contemplative. Considering the beauty of ripples on the water(?)
— Jen Geddes (@jageddes)
When two objects orbit each other, they cause the very fabric of space-time to ripple. 💫
— NASA Universe (@NASAUniverse)
Friends, please be compassionate to one another. Love each other. Be kind to one another. There is so much hurt in this world, and life is so very short. Our words and actions have such power and can have such a ripple effect upon others, so please choose love and compassion.
— Adriana Figueroa (@AdrianaFigueroa)
Try usingripple!
On which of the following things can ripples sometimes be found?
A. water
B. fabric
C. clouds
D. all of the above
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