/ rɪp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
to tear sth or to become torn, often suddenly or violently :
[ vn ]
I ripped my jeans on the fence.
The flags had been ripped in two.
[ vn - adj ]
She ripped the letter open .
[ v ]
I heard the tent rip.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to remove sth quickly or violently, often by pulling it :
He ripped off his tie.
The carpet had been ripped from the stairs.
3.
[ v , vn ] ( computing ) = rasterize
•
IDIOMS
- let rip (at sb)
- let rip | let sth rip
- rip sb/sth apart / to shreds / to bits, etc.
—more at heart , limb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- rip at sth
- rip into sb (for / with sth)
- rip into / through sb/sth
- rip sb off
- rip sth off
- rip sth up
■ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a long tear in cloth, paper, etc.
2.
= rip current
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 late Middle English (as a verb): of unknown origin; compare with the verb reap . The noun dates from the early 18th cent.
noun sense 2 late 18th cent.: perhaps related to rip in its other senses.