■ noun
1》 a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
↘ archaic rowdy behaviour.
2》 an impressively varied or lavish display: a ~ of colour.
3》 ( a ~ ) informal a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing.
■ verb
1》 take part in a ~.
2》 behave in an unrestrained way.
3》 archaic act in a dissipated way.
Phrases
read someone the Riot Act give someone a severe warning or reprimand. [from the name of a former act partly read out to disperse ~ers.]
run ~
1》 behave or be displayed in a violent and unrestrained way.
2》 proliferate or spread uncontrollably.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e 'debate', from ~er 'to quarrel', of unknown ultimate origin.