ramp

UK: /ˈræmp/ US: /ræmp/ ,(ramp)

Inflections of 'ramp' (n): npl: ramps

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ramp¹ /ræmp/   n. [countable]

1. Building a sloping surface connecting two levels.
2. Building any long, sloping walk or passageway.
3. Aeronautics a movable staircase for entering or leaving an airplane.
4. a road leading on or off a highway or expressway:
   an exit ramp.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ramp¹  (ramp), n. 

1. Building a sloping surface connecting two levels;
   incline.
2. Building a short concave slope or bend, as one connecting the higher and lower parts of a staircase railing at a landing.
3. Building any extensive sloping walk or passageway.
4. the act of ramping.
5. Aeronautics, Transport, Aeronautics Also called boarding ramp. a movable staircase for entering or leaving a cabin door of an airplane.
6. Aeronautics Also called parking ramp. apron (def. 6).

v.i. 

7. Zoology, Animal Behavior (of animals) to stand or move with the forelegs or arms raised, as in animosity or excitement.
8. (of a lion or other large quadruped represented on a coat of arms) to rise or stand on the hind legs.
9. Animal Behavior to rear as if to spring.
10. to leap or dash with fury (often fol. by about).
11. to act violently;
    rage;
    storm:
    ramping and raging in a great fury.

v.t. 

12. Building to provide with a ramp or ramps:
    Entrances will be ramped to accommodate those in wheelchairs.
13. Nautical, Naval Terms ramp along, to sail on a tack with all sails filled.

• French rampe, derivative of ramper
• Old French ramper to creep, crawl, climb; (noun, nominal)
• (verb, verbal) Middle English rampen 1350–1400

ramp′ing•ly, adv. 

ramp²  (ramp), n. Usually, ramps. 

1. Plant Biology a wild onion, Allium tricoccum, of the amaryllis family, of eastern North America, having flat leaves and rounded clusters of whitish flowers;
   eaten raw or used as a flavoring in cooked foods. Also called wild leek. 

• back formation from ramps ramson, variant (with intrusive p) of rams, earlier rammys, origin, originally the singular of ramson 1530–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ramp / ræmp/ noun

1. a sloping floor, path, etc, that joins two surfaces at different levels
2. a movable stairway by which passengers enter and leave an aircraft
3. the act of ramping
4. a swindle, esp one involving exorbitant prices
5. another name for speed bump

verb

1. (intr; often followed by about or around) (esp of animals) to rush around in a wild excited manner
2. to act in a violent or threatening manner, as when angry (esp in the phrase ramp and rage)
3. (transitive) to buy (a security) in the market with the object of raising its price and enhancing the image of the company behind it for financial gain

Etymology: 18th Century (n): from C13 rampe, from Old French ramper to crawl or rear, probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German ramp cramp