n. & v.
n. 1 the line of the junction of two surfaces sloping upwards towards each other (the ridge of a roof). 2 a long narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed. 3 any narrow elevation across a surface. 4 Meteorol. an elongated region of high barometric pressure. 5 Agriculture a raised strip of arable land, usu. one of a set separated by furrows. 6 Hort. a raised hotbed for melons etc.
v. 1 tr. mark with ridges. 2 tr. Agriculture break up (land) into ridges. 3 tr. Hort. plant (cucumbers etc.) in ridges. 4 tr. & intr. gather into ridges. ridge-piece (or -tree) a beam along the ridge of a roof. ridge-pole 1 the horizontal pole of a long tent. 2 = ridge-piece. ridge-tile a tile used in making a roof-ridge. ridgy adj.
[ OE hrycg f. Gmc ]