rip

¹

[rip]

noun

Informal.

1. a dissolute or worthless person.

2. a worthless or worn-out horse.

3. something of little or no value.

rip

²

[rip]

noun

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

RIP

³

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.

rip

⁴

[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

⁵

[rip]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Robert.

rip

¹

/ rɪp /

noun

1. something or someone of little or no value

2. an old worn-out horse

3. a dissolute character; reprobate

ˈrip

²

/ 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

³

abbreviation

1. requiescat or requiescant in pace

rip

⁴

/ rɪp /

noun

1. short for riptide

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

Origin of rip²

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

Origin of rip³

From Latin requiēscat (or requiēscant ) in pāce

Origin of rip⁴

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rip¹

C18: perhaps altered from rep , shortened from _reprobate

Origin of rip²

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

Origin of rip³

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

Origin of rip⁴

C18: perhaps from _rip ¹

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

Around the same time, California considered the policy for itself after dangerous fires ripped through the Santa Monica Mountains, Ghilarducci said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Kate, another of Miles's old friends, says she was added to a WhatsApp group with former school friends and acquaintances who said they had been ripped off.

Read more on BBC

He added: “Life is short — let it rip.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He shared her essay online on Saturday, with the caption, "Life is short - let it rip."

Read more on BBC

"I don't agree with ripping things up," Howe said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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