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

When he noticed the bar was smooth, rather than rippled, he posted a picture on Facebook.

From BBC

Hope rippled through the crowd, as protesters cheered and chanted Kim's name like he was a rock star.

From BBC

Instead, all the attention goes to micro-shifts in people’s moods, which, for characters this manicured, are as dramatic as a new ripple in a rock garden.

From Los Angeles Times

Lately, the multibillion-dollar public investments in Metro’s Crenshaw line and the Expo line that intersects it “have had a ripple effect in terms of the communities they serve becoming desirable,” Hart said.

From Los Angeles Times

A change in who rules the country would have ripple effects across the region, and would represent a significant upset in the rivalry between the U.S. and Russia, not to mention Iran.

From Los Angeles Times