■ verb ( past rode ; past participle ridden )
1》 sit on and control the movement of (a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle).
↘(usu. ~ in/on ) travel in or on (a vehicle or horse).
↘compete in (a race) on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle.
↘ N. Amer. travel in (a lift or vehicle).
2》 be carried or supported by (something with great momentum).
↘(of a vessel) sail or float.
↘( ~ something out ) come safely through something.
↘yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact.
3》 project or overlap.
↘( ~ up ) (of a garment) gradually move upwards out of its proper position.
4》 ( ~ on ) depend on.
5》 [often in combination ] ( be ridden ) be full of or dominated by: crime-ridden streets.
6》 vulgar slang have sex with.
7》 N. Amer. annoy or tease.
■ noun
1》 an act of riding.
2》 N. Amer. a person giving a lift in a vehicle.
3》 US informal a motor vehicle.
4》 a path for horse riding.
5》 a roller coaster, roundabout, etc. ridden at a fair or amusement park.
6》 (also ~ cymbal ) a cymbal keeping up a continuous rhythm.
7》 vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
Phrases
be riding for a fall informal be acting in a reckless way that invites failure.
let something ~ take no immediate action over something.
~ herd on N. Amer. keep watch over.
~ high be successful.
~ shotgun chiefly N. Amer. travel as a guard next to the driver of a vehicle.
~ to hounds chiefly Brit. go fox-hunting on horseback.
a rough (or easy ) ~ a difficult (or easy) time.
take someone for a ~ informal deceive someone.
Derivatives
~able (also ridable ) adjective
Origin
OE rīdan , of Gmc origin.