ripple

¹

[ rip-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, rip·pled, rip·pling.

1. (of a liquid surface) to form small waves or undulations, as water agitated by a breeze.

   Synonyms: purl, undulate, wave

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)

, rip·pled, rip·pling.

1. to form small waves or undulations on; agitate lightly.

   Synonyms: dimple, curl, ruffle

2. to mark as if with ripples; give a wavy form to.

noun

1. a small wave or undulation, as on water.

   Synonyms: ruffle, wavelet

2. any similar movement or appearance; a small undulation or wave, as in hair.
3. a small rapid.
4. Geology. ripple mark.
5. a sound, as of water flowing in ripples:

   a ripple of laughter.

ripple

²

[ rip-uhl ]

noun

1. a toothed or comblike device for removing seeds or capsules from flax, hemp, etc.

verb (used with object)

, rip·pled, rip·pling.

1. to remove the seeds or capsules from (flax or hemp) with a ripple.

ripple

¹

/ ˈrɪpəl /

noun

1. a special kind of comb designed to separate the seed from the stalks in flax, hemp, or broomcorn

verb

1. tr to comb with this tool

ripple

²

/ 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. another word for riffle
6. another word for ripple mark

verb

1. intr to form ripples or flow with a rippling or undulating motion
2. tr to stir up (water) so as to form ripples
3. tr to make ripple marks
4. intr (of sounds) to rise and fall gently

   her laughter rippled through the air

Derived Forms

• ˈrippler, noun
• ˈrippler, noun
• ˈripplingly, adverb
• ˈripply, adjective
• ˈrippling, adjective

Other Words From

• ripple·less adjective
• rippling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ripple¹

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Origin of ripple²

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; cognate with West Frisian ripel, Dutch repel, German Riffel

Word History and Origins

Origin of ripple¹

C14: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch repelen , Middle High German reffen to ripple

Origin of ripple²

C17: perhaps from rip ¹

Synonym Study

See wave.

Example Sentences

Analysts interpreted it as an immediate ripple effect of the newly established US-Cuban détente.

From The Daily Beast

And sending Cary to prison has a ripple effect for all of these characters.

From The Daily Beast

Playing in her yard one day, she saw “a ripple, a disturbance of the air … My first thought is that I have seen the devil.”

From The Daily Beast

The heat creates mirages with waves that ripple through the air.

From The Daily Beast

There was a ripple of assent in the crowd as the word spread.

From The Daily Beast

This was said with a comical air of doubt, and a half smile, which sent a ripple of laughter over the charming face.

From Project Gutenberg

All was silent; a fresh breeze swept over the clear lake whose every ripple had the gracious curve of a smile.

From Project Gutenberg

He thought he heard the ripple of waves on a sunlit shore, and of wide-spreading trees which grew close to the edge of the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly it ceased raining; and, looking about them, they saw that the lake was perfectly quiet—not a ripple could be seen.

From Project Gutenberg

You see that there the ocean tides and the currents of the river meet and cause a constant ripple.

From Project Gutenberg