ripple

UK: /ˈrɪp^əl/ US: /ˈrɪpəl/ ,(rip′əl)

Inflections of 'ripple' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

ripples

v 3rd person singular

rippling

v pres p

rippled

v past

rippled

v past p

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

rip•ple¹ /ˈrɪpəl/   v., -pled, -pling, n. 
v. 

1. (of a liquid surface) to form small waves, as water when a breeze disturbs it: [no object]
   The water rippled in the sunlight.
   [~ + object]
   The breeze rippled the water.
2. to (cause to) have small waves, ruffles, or folds: [no object]
   His muscles rippled as he lifted the load.
   [~ + object]
   rippling his muscles.
3. (of sound) to move along with a rising and falling sound:
   [no object] Laughter rippled through the crowd.

n. [countable]

4. a small wave, as on water.
5. a movement, form, or sound similar to this:
   a ripple of laughter.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rip•ple¹  (rip′əl), v., -pled, -pling, n. 
v.i. 

1. (of a liquid surface) to form small waves or undulations, as water agitated by a breeze.
2. to flow with a light rise and fall or ruffling of the surface.
3. (of a solid surface) to form or have small undulations, ruffles, or folds.
4. (of sound) to undulate or rise and fall in tone, inflection, or magnitude.

v.t. 

5. to form small waves or undulations on;
   agitate lightly.
6. to mark as if with ripples;
   give a wavy form to.

n. 

7. a small wave or undulation, as on water.
8. any similar movement or appearance;
   a small undulation or wave, as in hair.
9. a small rapid.
10. [Geol.] See ripple mark. 
11. a sound, as of water flowing in ripples:
    a ripple of laughter.

• origin, originally uncertain 1660–70

rip′ple•less, adj. 
rip′pling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. wave, undulate, purl.
• 5. ruffle, curl, dimple.
• 7. wavelet, ruffling. See wave. 

rip•ple²  (rip′əl), n., v., -pled, -pling. 
n. 

1. a toothed or comblike device for removing seeds or capsules from flax, hemp, etc.

v.t. 

2. to remove the seeds or capsules from (flax or hemp) with a ripple.

• 1425–75; late Middle English ripel; cognate with Dutch repel, German Riffel

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ripple / ˈrɪp^əl/ noun

1. a slight wave or undulation on the surface of water
2. a small wave or undulation in fabric, hair, etc
3. a sound reminiscent of water flowing quietly in ripples: a ripple of laughter
4. an oscillation of small amplitude superimposed on a steady value
5. 
   another word for riffle4
6. another word for ripple mark

verb

1. (intransitive) to form ripples or flow with a rippling or undulating motion
2. (transitive) to stir up (water) so as to form ripples
3. (transitive) to make ripple marks on
4. (intransitive) (of sounds) to rise and fall gently

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from rip¹

ˈrippler noun

ˈrippling adjective

ˈripply adjective

ripple / ˈrɪp^əl/ noun

a special kind of comb designed to separate the seed from the stalks in flax, hemp, or broomcorn

verb

1. (transitive) to comb with this tool

Etymology: 14th Century: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch repelen, Middle High German reffen to ripple

ˈrippler noun