I. rip ‧ ple 1 /ˈrɪp ə l/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Probably from rip ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to move in small waves, or to make something move in this way:
fields of grain rippling in the soft wind
I could see the muscles rippling under his shirt.
2 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to pass from one person to another like a wave
ripple through
Panic rippled through Hollywood as the murders were discovered.
ripple around
Enthusiastic applause rippled around the tables.
3 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a feeling ripples through you, you feel it strongly
ripple through
Anger was rippling through him so fiercely that his whole body shook.
4 . [intransitive] to make a noise like water that is flowing gently:
The water rippled over the stones.
a rippling brook
II. ripple 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a small low wave on the surface of a liquid:
ripples on the surface of the pond
She dived into the pool, making scarcely a ripple.
2 . a sound that gets gradually louder and softer:
A ripple of laughter ran through the audience.
a ripple of applause
3 . a feeling that spreads through a person or a group because of something that has happened:
A ripple of excitement went through the crowd as he came on stage.
4 . a shape or pattern that looks like a wave:
ripples on the sand
5 . raspberry ripple/chocolate ripple etc a type of ↑ ice cream that has different coloured bands of fruit, chocolate etc in it
6 . ripple effect a situation in which one action causes another, which then causes a third etc SYN domino effect :
The increase had a ripple effect through the whole financial market.