1. v. & n.
--v.tr. & intr. (ripped, ripping)
1. tr. tear or cut (a thing) quickly or forcibly away or apart (ripped out the lining; ripped the book up).
2 tr. a make (a hole etc.) by ripping. b make a long tear or cut in.
3 intr. come violently apart; split.
4 intr. rush along.
--n.
1. a long tear or cut.
2 an act of ripping.
Phrases and idioms:
let rip colloq.
1. act or proceed without restraint.
2 speak violently.
3 not check the speed of or interfere with (a person or thing). rip-cord a cord for releasing a parachute from its pack. rip into attack (a person) verbally. rip off colloq. defraud, steal. rip-off n.
colloq.
1. a fraud or swindle.
2 financial exploitation.
Etymology: ME: orig. unkn. 2. n. a stretch of rough water in the sea or in a river, caused by the meeting of currents.
Phrases and idioms:
rip current (or tide)
1. a strong surface current from the shore.
2 a state of conflicting psychological forces.
Etymology: 18th c.: perh. rel. to RIP(1) 3. n.1 a dissolute person.
2 a rascal.
3 a worthless horse.
Etymology: perh. f. rep, abbr. of REPROBATE