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 rip¹

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 rip²

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

Origin of rip³

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

Origin of rip⁴

From Latin requiēscat (or requiēscant ) in pāce

Word History and Origins

Origin of rip¹

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

Origin of rip²

C18: perhaps from _rip ¹

Origin of rip³

C18: perhaps altered from rep , shortened from _reprobate

Origin of rip⁴

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 rip

• let it rip

Synonym Study

See tear ².

Example Sentences

Vayas's Geneva draft treaty text was instantly ripped apart by countries in brutal fashion, and while a revised effort gained some traction, the clock ran out.

Read more on Barron's

While it is not expected to make landfall in the U.S., its effects are far-reaching, with life-threatening rip currents and surf along much of the East Coast that makes swimming dangerous.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Expect kids in skate parks to rip around you while you push around at half-speed.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A particularly infamous example from over a decade ago showed a Chinese fighter ripping a Japanese soldier apart with his bare hands.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The latest shelling ripped through part of the hospital, destroying wards.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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