ripple
ripple Lexical Profile
ripple Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small wave or series of gentle undulations on the surface of water or another liquid, caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.
"The pebble sank to the bottom of the pond, leaving concentric ripples across the calm surface."
A gentle, rising and falling sound or a spreading feeling or effect that passes gradually through a group or system.
"A ripple of applause spread through the auditorium as the keynote speaker stepped onto the stage."
A type of ice cream having a wavy ribbon of brightly colored syrup, fruit puree, or fudge running through it.
"She ordered a scoop of raspberry ripple in a waffle cone from the neighborhood ice cream parlor."
• verb
To form or flow with small, gentle waves on the surface, or to cause a liquid or flexible material to move in undulating folds.
"A warm summer breeze rippled the tall grass across the open meadow."
To spread or pass gradually outward through a crowd, community, or system like a series of expanding waves.
"News of the unexpected scientific discovery rippled through the research community within hours."
To remove the seeds or capsules from flax stalks by drawing them through an iron-toothed comb.
"After harvesting the mature flax, the workers rippled the dried stalks to separate the linseed bolls."
• Rhymes for ripple
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 17th century, probably as a frequentative formation of the verb rip, or derived from a Low German or Scandinavian source related to ruffling or scratching a surface.