riddle

1 of 4

noun (1)

rid·dle ˈri-dᵊl How to pronounce riddle (audio)

: a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum, enigma

: something or someone difficult to understand

riddle

2 of 4

verb (1)

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ How to pronounce riddle (audio)

ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to speak in or propound riddles

transitive verb

: to find the solution of : explain

: to set a riddle for : puzzle

riddler

ˈrid-lər

ˈri-dᵊl-ər

noun

riddle

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a coarse sieve

riddle

4 of 4

verb (2)

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ How to pronounce riddle (audio)

ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

: to separate (something, such as grain from chaff) with a riddle : screen

: to pierce with many holes

riddled the car with bullets

: to spread through : permeate

a book riddled with errors

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English redels, ridel, from Old English rǣdelse opinion, conjecture, riddle; akin to Old English rǣdan to interpret — more at read

Noun (2)

Middle English ridel, going back to Old English hriddel (attested once), alteration (by dissimilation or suffix substitution) of hridder, hrīder, going back to Germanic *hrīdra- (whence also Old Saxon hrīdra "sieve," Old High German rītera), going back to Indo-European *krei̯(h₁)̯-dhro- or *krei̯(h₁)̯-tro- (whence Latin crībrum "sieve," Old Irish críathar, Old Welsh cruitr "winnowing fan"), from *krei̯(h₁)- "sift, separate" + *-dhro-, *-tro-, suffixes of instrument — more at certain entry 1

Note: See note at acetabulum.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1571, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

riddle 1 of 2

noun

rid·dle ˈri-dᵊl How to pronounce riddle (audio)

: a puzzling question to be solved or answered by guessing

: someone or something that is hard to understand

His strange behavior was a riddle.

riddle

2 of 2

verb

riddled; riddling

: to pierce with many holes

My umbrella was riddled by hailstones during the sudden storm.

: to fill with something unpleasant or unwanted

The report is riddled with errors.

单词	riddles
释义	riddle 1 of 4 noun (1) rid·dle ˈri-dᵊl 1 : a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum, enigma 2 : something or someone difficult to understand riddle 2 of 4 verb (1) riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ intransitive verb : to speak in or propound riddles transitive verb 1 : to find the solution of : explain 2 : to set a riddle for : puzzle riddler ˈrid-lər ˈri-dᵊl-ər noun riddle 3 of 4 noun (2) : a coarse sieve riddle 4 of 4 verb (2) riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ transitive verb 1 : to separate (something, such as grain from chaff) with a riddle : screen 2 : to pierce with many holes riddled the car with bullets 3 : to spread through : permeate a book riddled with errors Did you know? Riddle Me This Riddle comes from an Old English word meaning "opinion" or "conjecture" that is related to a verb meaning "to interpret." Synonyms Noun (1) closed book conundrum enigma head-scratcher mystery mystification puzzle puzzlement secret why Verb (2) bore drill hole perforate pierce punch puncture See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English redels, ridel, from Old English rǣdelse opinion, conjecture, riddle; akin to Old English rǣdan to interpret — more at read Noun (2) Middle English ridel, going back to Old English hriddel (attested once), alteration (by dissimilation or suffix substitution) of hridder, hrīder, going back to Germanic hrīdra- (whence also Old Saxon hrīdra* "sieve," Old High German rītera), going back to Indo-European krei̯(h₁)̯-dhro- or krei̯(h₁)̯-tro- (whence Latin crībrum "sieve," Old Irish críathar, Old Welsh cruitr "winnowing fan"), from krei̯(h₁)- "sift, separate" + -dhro-, -tro-, suffixes of instrument — more at certain entry 1 Note: See note at acetabulum. First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb (1) 1571, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Noun (2) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above Verb (2) 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition riddle 1 of 2 noun rid·dle ˈri-dᵊl 1 : a puzzling question to be solved or answered by guessing 2 : someone or something that is hard to understand His strange behavior was a riddle. riddle 2 of 2 verb riddled; riddling 1 : to pierce with many holes My umbrella was riddled* by hailstones during the sudden storm. 2 : to fill with something unpleasant or unwanted The report is riddled with errors. riddles 1 of 2 noun plural of riddle as in mysteries something hard to understand or explain his motives for starting an argument with the coach were a complete riddle Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance mysteries puzzles enigmas conundrums secrets puzzlements mystifications problems brainteasers whys challenges closed books head-scratchers stumpers perplexities matters posers troubles cases knots riddles 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of riddle 1 as in drills to make a hole or series of holes in several signs along the highway were riddled by buckshot Synonyms & Similar Words drills holes punches punctures pokes pierces bores perforates taps cuts hollows pricks grooves prickles broaches slits excavates breaks penetrates slashes splits gashes ruptures notches rends gouges burrows (into) Antonyms & Near Antonyms seals fills plugs patches 2 as in suffuses to spread throughout the newspaper exposé revealed a gaming commission that is riddled with corruption Synonyms & Similar Words suffuses penetrates floods interpenetrates pervades transfuses permeates percolates (into) passes (into) steeps fills (up) impregnates gluts infuses imbues diffuses (through) saturates soaks drenches
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riddle

noun (1)

verb (1)

noun (2)

verb (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

verb

noun

verb