1ruffle1 (ˈrʌfəll
)
Definitions
verb
- to make, be, or become irregular or rumpled ⇒
to ruffle a child's hair
a breeze ruffling the water
- to annoy, irritate, or be annoyed or irritated
- (tr) to make into a ruffle; pleat
- (of a bird) to erect (its feathers) in anger, display, etc
- (tr) to flick (cards, pages, etc) rapidly with the fingers
noun
- an irregular or disturbed surface
- a strip of pleated material used for decoration or as a trim
- zoology another name for ruff1 (sense 2)
- annoyance or irritation
Word Origin
C13: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German ruffelen to crumple, Old Norse hrufla to scratch
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
disarrange,
disorder,
wrinkle,
mess up,
rumple,
tousle,
derange,
discompose,
dishevel,
muss,
=
annoy,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
confuse,
stir,
disturb,
rattle,
irritate,
put out,
unsettle,
shake up,
harass,
hassle,
agitate,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
nettle,
vex,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
peeve,
hack off,
2ruffle2 (ˈrʌfəll)
Definitions
noun
- a low continuous drumbeat
verb
- (tr) to beat (a drum) with a low repetitive beat
Word Origin
C18: from earlier ruff, of imitative origin
3ruffle3 (ˈrʌfəll)
Definitions
verb
- (intr) archaic to behave riotously or arrogantly; swagger
Word Origin
C15: of obscure origin
