n. 1 rioting, riotous behaviour, disturbance, uproar, tumult, turmoil, (civil) disorder, lawlessness, hubbub, rumpus, turbulence, fracas, fray, affray, mêlée or melee, pandemonium, Donnybrook, brawl, row, unrest, commotion, bother, imbroglio, outburst, anarchy, disruption, violence, strife, Colloq ruckus, ruction, to-do, do, Brit bovver, punch-up The government is unable to quell the food riots, which have become more frequent and more violent 2 funny person or woman or man, comedian or comedienne, hilarious event or bit or shtick or thing or piece of business, Colloq gas, US panic, laugh-riot Benny's closing routine with the model is an absolute riot
v. 3 mount the barricades, take to the streets, rebel, revolt, create or cause a disturbance, brawl, fight, (go on the or US also a) rampage, run riot, storm The prisoners rioted to protest against the crowded conditions