/ raɪd; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( rode / rəʊd; NAmE roʊd/ rid·den / ˈrɪdn; NAmE /)
HORSE
1.
[often + adv. / prep. ] to sit on a horse, etc. and control it as it moves :
[ v ]
I learnt to ride as a child.
They rode along narrow country lanes.
He was riding on a large black horse.
[ vn ]
She had never ridden a horse before.
He's ridden six winners so far this year (= in horse racing) .
2.
[ v ] go riding ( BrE ) ( NAmE go ˈhorseback riding ) to spend time riding a horse for pleasure :
How often do you go riding?
BICYCLE / MOTORCYCLE
3.
[often + adv. / prep. ] to sit on and control a bicycle, motorcycle, etc. :
[ vn ]
The boys were riding their bikes around the streets.
He rode a Harley Davidson.
[ v ]
The ground there is too rough to ride over.
IN VEHICLE
4.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to travel in a vehicle, especially as a passenger :
[ v ]
I walked back while the others rode in the car.
[ vn ] ( NAmE )
to ride the subway / an elevator, etc.
She rode the bus to school every day.
ON WATER / AIR
5.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to float or be supported on water or air :
[ v ]
We watched the balloon riding high above the fields.
[ vn ]
surfers riding the waves
GO THROUGH AREA
6.
[ vn ] to go through or over an area on a horse, bicycle, etc. :
We rode the mountain trails.
CRITICIZE
7.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to criticize or tease sb in an annoying way :
Why is everybody riding me today?
•
IDIOMS
- be riding for a fall
- be riding high
- let sth ride
- ride the crest of sth
- ride herd on sb/sth
- ride shotgun
- ride a / the wave of sth
—more at wish noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- ride on sth
- ride sth out
- ride up
■ noun
IN VEHICLE
1.
a short journey in a vehicle, on a bicycle, etc. :
a train ride through beautiful countryside
It's a ten-minute bus ride from here to town.
Steve gave me a ride on his motorbike.
We went for a ride on our bikes.
a bike ride
2.
( NAmE ) = lift :
She hitched a ride to the station.
We managed to get a ride into town when we missed the bus.
3.
the kind of journey you make in a car, etc. :
a smooth / comfortable / bumpy, etc. ride
( figurative )
The new legislation faces a bumpy ride (= will meet with opposition and difficulties) .
ON HORSE
4.
a short journey on a horse, etc. :
a pony ride
The kids had a ride on an elephant at the zoo.
He goes for a ride most mornings.
AT FUNFAIR
5.
a large machine at a funfair or amusement park that you ride on for fun or excitement; an occasion when you go on one of these :
The rides are free.
a roller coaster ride
•
IDIOMS
- come / go along for the ride
- have a rough / an easy ride | give sb a rough / an easy ride
- take sb for a ride
—more at free adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English rīdan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rijden and German reiten .