rippling


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

rip·ple 1

 (rĭp′əl)
v. rip·pled, rip·pling, rip·ples
v.intr.
1.
a. To form or display little undulations or waves on the surface, as disturbed water does.
b. To flow with such undulations or waves on the surface.
2. To rise and fall gently in tone or volume.
v.tr.
To cause to form small waves or undulations.
n.
1. A small wave.
2. A wavelike motion; an undulation: the ripple of a flag.
3. A sound like that made by rippling water: a ripple of laughter.

[Middle English ripplen, to wrinkle, crease, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

rip′pler n.
rip′pling·ly adv.

rip·ple 2

 (rĭp′əl)
n.
A comblike, toothed instrument for removing seeds from flax and other fibers.
tr.v. rip·pled, rip·pling, rip·ples
To remove seeds from with a comblike, toothed instrument.

[Middle English, from *ripelen, to remove seeds; akin to Middle Low German repelen.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.rippling - a small wave on the surface of a liquidrippling - a small wave on the surface of a liquid
moving ridge, wave - one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

rippling

adjective
Emitting a murmuring sound felt to resemble a laugh:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
For the Ripple Land was a succession of hills and valleys, all very steep and rocky, and they changed places constantly by rippling. While Guph was climbing a hill it sank down under him and became a valley, and while he was descending into a valley it rose up and carried him to the top of a hill.
I should hear it still rippling on with its gentle harpsichord tinkle, as I stretched myself down among the cool lavendered sheets, and little by little let slip the multifarious world.
You can even detect a water-bug (Gyrinus) ceaselessly progressing over the smooth surface a quarter of a mile off; for they furrow the water slightly, making a conspicuous ripple bounded by two diverging lines, but the skaters glide over it without rippling it perceptibly.