rip

¹

[rip]

verb (used with object)

ripped, ripping 

1. to cut or tear apart in a rough or vigorous manner.

   to rip open a seam; to rip up a sheet.

2. to cut or tear away in a rough or vigorous manner.

   to rip bark from a tree.

3. to saw (wood) in the direction of the grain.

4. Digital Technology.,  to copy (audio or video files from a CD, DVD, or website) to a hard drive or mobile device, typically by extracting the raw data and changing the file format in the process.

   Can you rip this CD for me?

verb (used without object)

ripped, ripping 

1. to become torn apart or split open.

   Cheap cloth rips easily.

2. Informal.,  to move with violence or great speed.

   The sports car ripped along in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes.

noun

1. a rent made by ripping; tear.

   Synonyms: cut, laceration

2. Slang.,  a cheat, swindle, or theft; ripoff.

   The average consumer doesn't realize that the new tax is a rip.

verb phrase

1. rip out,  to utter angrily, as with an oath or exclamation.

2. rip off

   1. to steal or pilfer.

   2. to rob or steal from.

   3. to swindle, cheat, or exploit; take advantage of.

      phony charity appeals that rip off a gullible public.

3. rip into,  to attack physically or verbally; assail.

rip

²

[rip]

noun

1. a stretch of turbulent water at sea or in a river.

rip

³

[rip]

noun

Informal.

1. a dissolute or worthless person.

2. a worthless or worn-out horse.

3. something of little or no value.

Rip

⁴

[rip]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Robert.

RIP

⁵

Or R.I.P.

[ahr-ahy-pee, rip]

abbreviation

1. rest in peace:

   1. (used, especially on grave markers and memorials, to wish peace after death upon a deceased person).

   2. Often Facetious.,  (used to indicate that a person or thing has been destroyed or damaged).

      RIP to my dignity after that awful spin class.

ˈrip

¹

/ rɪp /

verb

1. to tear or be torn violently or roughly; split or be rent

2. (tr; foll by off or out) to remove hastily, carelessly, or roughly

   they ripped out all the old kitchen units

3. informal,  (intr) to move violently or precipitously; rush headlong

4. informal,  to pour violent abuse (on); make a verbal attack (on)

5. (tr) to saw or split (wood) in the direction of the grain

6. informal,  (tr) computing to copy (music or software) without permission or making any payment

7. to act or speak without restraint

noun

1. the place where something is torn; a tear or split

2. short for ripsaw

rip

²

/ rɪp /

noun

1. short for riptide

rip

³

/ rɪp /

noun

1. something or someone of little or no value

2. an old worn-out horse

3. a dissolute character; reprobate

RIP

⁴

abbreviation

1. requiescat or requiescant in pace

rip

1. A stretch of water in a river, estuary, or tidal channel made rough by waves meeting an opposing current.

2. A rip current.

R.I.P.

1. The abbreviation for “rest in peace,” often found on gravestones or in obituaries. From the Latin, requiescat in pace.

Other Word Forms

• rippable adjective
• unrippable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ˈrip¹

First recorded in 1400–50; 1960–65 rip ¹ for def. 10; Middle English rippen “to tear out (seams, sutures), rip, rip off”; further origin uncertain; obscurely akin to Frisian rippe, Middle Dutch rippen, reppen; compare dialectal English ripple “to scratch”

Origin of ˈrip²

First recorded in 1765–75; rip ¹, ripple ¹

Origin of ˈrip³

First recorded in 1770–80; of uncertain origin; possibly alteration of rep, shortened form of reprobate

Origin of ˈrip⁴

From Latin requiēscat (or requiēscant ) in pāce

Word History and Origins

Origin of ˈrip¹

C15: perhaps from Flemish rippen ; compare Middle Dutch rippen to pull

Origin of ˈrip²

C18: perhaps from _rip ¹

Origin of ˈrip³

C18: perhaps altered from rep , shortened from _reprobate

Origin of ˈrip⁴

Latin: may he, she, or they rest in peace

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. let rip,

   1. to utter a series of oaths; swear.

   2. to speak or write violently, rapidly, or at great length.

   3. to allow to proceed at full speed or without restraint.

More idioms and phrases containing ˈrip

• let it rip

Synonym Study

See tear ².

Example Sentences

Twelve people died as the flames ripped through Pacific Palisades.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In some places, roofs have reportedly been ripped off houses, while trees and electricity poles have been knocked down.

Read more on BBC

While the work of their Attic cousins is celebrated for being high-minded and idealistic—all those ripped bodies, gods and goddesses—theirs, with its focus on everyday individuals and events, can be seen as prosaic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Republican theme was that the rolls were brimming with malingerers, layabouts and fraudsters devoted to ripping off the taxpayers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A mechanical excavator had ripped through the facade of the East Wing, leaving a tangle of broken masonry, rubble and steel wires, AFP journalists at the scene saw.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burst 
• hack 
• score 
• shred 
• slit 
• split