释义 |
rip·ple 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 |