v.
Pronunciation: ' r ī v
Function: verb
Inflected Form: rived \ ' r ī vd \ ; riv · en \ ' ri-v ə n \ also rived ; riv · ing \ ' r ī -vi ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse r ī fa; akin to Greek ereipein to tear down
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to wrench open or tear apart or to pieces : REND b : to split with force or violence <lightning rived the tree>
2 a : to divide into pieces : SHATTER <nations riven by civil war> b : FRACTURE
intransitive verb : to become split : CRACK
synonyms see TEAR