Ruffle
['rʌf(ə)l] or ['rʌfl]
Definition
(verb.) pleat or gather into a ruffle; 'ruffle the curtain fabric'.
(verb.) disturb the smoothness of; 'ruffle the surface of the water'.
(verb.) erect or fluff up; 'the bird ruffled its feathers'.
(verb.) trouble or vex; 'ruffle somebody's composure'.
(verb.) discompose; 'This play is going to ruffle some people'; 'She has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues'.
Inputed by Leila--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
(v. t.) To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
(v. t.) To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.
(v. t.) To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
(v. t.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
(v. t.) To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
(v. t.) To throw into disorder or confusion.
(v. t.) To throw together in a disorderly manner.
(v. i.) To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
(v. i.) To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
(v. i.) To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
(v. t. & i.) That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.
(v. t. & i.) A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.
(v. t. & i.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also ruff.
(v. t. & i.) The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca.
Edited by Alexander
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Disarrange, damage, disorder.[2]. Discompose, disquiet, trouble, vex, torment, molest, plague, worry, harass, disturb, agitate.[3]. Gather into folds, wrinkle, cockle, pucker.
n. [1]. Ruff, frill, edging.[2]. Bustle, disturbance, commotion, confusion, perturbation, flutter, flurry, agitation, fluster, hurry-scurry.
Typist: Paul
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Wrinkle, roughen, dis, compose, disturb, agitate, disorder, derange,disarrange, confute, excite
ANT:Smooth, allay, equalize, compose, quiet, arrange,[See REPENT], conciliate
Checker: Shelia
Definition
v.t. to make like a ruff to wrinkle: to form into plaits: to form with ruffles: to disorder: to agitate.—v.i. to grow rough: to flutter.—n. annoyance: a quarrel: a plaited article of dress: a tumult: agitation.—adj. Ruff′led.—ns. Ruff′lement; Ruff′ler a machine for making ruffles; Ruff′ling ruffles generally.—Ruffle one's feathers to make one angry.
v.i. to act turbulently: to swagger.—v.t. to bully.—n. Ruff′ler a bully.
Checked by Genevieve
Examples
- Unless I have done anything,' said Little Dorrit, rather alarmed, and meaning anything calculated to crack varnish and ruffle surface. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Snakes act on the same principle which makes the hen ruffle her feathers and expand her wings when a dog approaches her chickens. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- To do him justice, he would have shared his prize with her to whom he owed itbut that was never allowed: to insist, was to ruffle her for the evening. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- The fact is, that Roylands' admiration of the portrait seemed to ruffle Caliphronas very much, and quite altered his usual nonchalance of manner. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Cheerfulness and alertness seemed to return to him, and a quietness which no insult or injury could ruffle seemed to possess him. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- They leave Mr. Tulkinghorn, without a ruffle on the surface of his unfathomable depths, drinking his old wine, and go down into the streets. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The letter, then, is from a certain foreign potentate who has been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this country. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- An exhausted composure, a worn-out placidity, an equanimity of fatigue not to be ruffled by interest or satisfaction, are the trophies of her victory. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- In this sign I read a ruffled mood. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Don't be ruffled by your occupation. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Madame's brow had not been ruffled during the scene--her lips had not dropped one sharply-accented word. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- He had the special peculiarity of some birds of prey, that when he knitted his brow, his ruffled crest stood highest. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- She said it so finally, and in such an undiscussible way, that Mr. Pumblechook, though in a condition of ruffled dignity, could not protest. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Tucking, ruffling, braiding, cording, hemming, turning, plaiting, gaging, and other attachment devices are numerous. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- But he will be very handsomely dressed in a court suit, with ruffles, and his hair a little powdered, like Mr. Wroughton at Covent Garden. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The person who works the lace of a pair of fine ruffles for example, will sometimes raise the value of, perhaps, a pennyworth of flax to ?30 sterling. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- More elation and more anxiety; an excitement that steals the hours away fast, and a trouble that ruffles their course. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- He sat on a bench, with his hoops and ruffles and high powdered head, his point laced lappets, &c. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
Checked by Giselle