ripple

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈrɪpəl/ UK /ˈrɪpəl/ See IPA manual

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a small wave or series of waves, or a spreading effect

The news sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small wave or series of... waveletruffle undulation ridge wavepurl

Word family

Forms ripply

Derived forms rippledripplingripplerripply

Related forms riffle ruffle

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, first attested in the 17th century; possibly a frequentative of rip or related to the dialectal word for a shallow stretch of water.

Topics

Describing Qualities

# ripple

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈrɪpəl
**IPA (UK):** ˈrɪpəl

## Meanings
1. a small wave or series of waves, or a spreading effect

## Examples
- The news sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd.

## Synonyms
- wavelet
- ruffle
- undulation
- ridge
- wave
- purl

## Derived Forms
- rippled
- rippling
- rippler
- ripply

## Related Forms
- riffle
- ruffle

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, first attested in the 17th century; possibly a frequentative of rip or related to the dialectal word for a shallow stretch of water.

## AI Etymology
Ripple is of uncertain origin, first attested in the 17th century; possibly a frequentative of rip or related to the dialectal word for a shallow stretch of water. In present English it is used as a noun, "a small wave or series of waves, or a spreading effect". English derivatives include rippled, rippling, rippler, and ripply; related English forms include riffle and ruffle. The result is a noun and verb whose etymology preserves both the older form and the later English specialization.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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ripple

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