ripples


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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.

ripples

(ˈrɪpəlz)
pl n
the repercussions of an event or situation experienced far beyond its immediate location
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Translations
References in classic literature ?
There open fanes and gaping graves Yawn level with the luminous waves ; But not the riches there that lie In each idol's diamond eye - Not the gaily-jewelled dead Tempt the waters from their bed ; For no ripples curl, alas!
Even the ripples were a danger to our overloaded craft, but the worst of it was that we were swept out of our true course and away from our proper landing-place behind the point.
I watched the circling ripples round the place at which it had sunk.
The wind blew hard and joggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface.
He felt the ripples upon his face and heard their separate sounds as they struck.
Vanni's harp came in silvery ripples through the blackness of the dusty-smelling night; then the violins fell in--one of them was almost like a flute.
Once a ripple came to land In the golden sunset burning-- Lapped against a maiden's hand, By the ford returning.
He wanted to get to the Country of the Growleywogs, and in order to do that he must cross the Ripple Land, which was a hard thing to do.
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.
She must get her boat into the current of the Floss, else she would never be able to pass the Ripple and approach the house; this was the thought that occurred to her, as she imagined with more and more vividness the state of things round the old home.
For we not only saw the water, but WE HEARD IT!...We heard it flow, we heard it ripple!...Do you understand that word "ripple?"...IT IS A SOUND WHICH YOU HEAR WITH YOUR TONGUE!
The following day still saw them scattered within sight of each other and heading different ways; but when, at last, the breeze came with the darkling ripple that ran very blue on a pale sea, they all went in the same direction together.