I. ˈripəl transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English riplen; akin to Middle Dutch repelen & repen to ripple, Middle Low German rēpelen, Middle High German reffen to ripple, Old High German riffilōn to saw
1. : to remove (seeds) from flax or hemp with a ripple
2. : to draw (flax) through a ripple
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English repylle, ryppyll; akin to Middle Low German rēpel ripple, Old High German riffila saw, riffilōn to saw — more at ripple I
: a large instrument like a comb for removing seeds and other matter from flax or hemp
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English replen, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian ripla & ripa to scratch, Swedish repa — more at reap
dialect Britain : to scratch slightly
IV. noun
( -s )
dialect Britain : a slight cut : scratch
V. verb
( rippled ; rippled ; rippling -p(ə)liŋ ; ripples )
Etymology: perhaps from rip (II) + -le
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become fretted or lightly ruffled on the surface (as water) : become covered with or form in small waves or undulations
a blue river rippled into the bay — Israel Zangwill
the ripened cornfields rippled up to the doorsteps of the cottages — Flora Thompson
his lean, sun-bronzed upper body rippled all over with long, graceful muscle — Frank Yerby
b. : to flow in small waves
the brook rippled onward below her
c. : to fall in soft undulating folds or wavy lines
the cloth rippled to the floor
2. : to flow with a light rise and fall of sound or inflection
laughter rippled over the audience
3. : to move with an undulating motion or so as to cause ripples
the canoe rippled through the water
4. : to run irregularly through a crowd, group, or population
had watched discontent ripple through the seaports and back country — Oscar Handlin
transitive verb
1. : to stir up small waves on (water) : move or disturb lightly
a moderate breeze was rippling the lagoon — Ernest Beaglehole
2. : to impart a wavy motion or appearance to
began to stretch and ripple his muscles — Time
3. : to utter or play with a slight rise and fall of sound : make a light rapid cadence or melody of
ripping a boogiewoogie beat on the piano — Noel Houston
VI. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a shallow stretch of running water in a stream roughened or broken by rocky or uneven bottom
b.
(1) : the fretting or ruffling of the surface of water (as by wind)
(2) : a small wave
c. : a small wave propagated by both surface tension and gravity — distinguished from gravity wave
2. : something resembling or suggesting a ripple of water: as
a. : ripple mark 2
b. : a soft fold (as in a full skirt) or a wavy outline (as in a hat brim)
c. : chatter mark 1
d. : a sound like that of rippling water
a ripple of laughter
a ripple of conversation
3. : riffle I 1
4. : a slight fluctuation in the intensity of an otherwise steady electrical current