ruffle
/ˈɹʌfəl/ verb C2- To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric. · Ruffle the end of the cuff.
- To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter. · The wind ruffled the papers.· Her sudden volley of insults ruffled his composure.
- To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
- To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
- To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
- To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
- To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
- To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
He/she/it ruffles · Past ruffled · Past participle ruffled · -ing form ruffling
Verb forms
- Base form
- ruffle
- He/she/it
- ruffles
- Past
- ruffled
- Past participle
- ruffled
- -ing form
- ruffling
From the library
There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps.
“I really beg your pardon!” said my companion, who had ruffled the little man’s temper by bursting into an explosion of laughter.
Her freckles were more numerous and obtrusive than ever; the wind had ruffled her hatless hair into over-brilliant disorder; it had never looked redder than at that moment.
Oh, how pretty it was--a lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk; a skirt with dainty frills and shirrings; a waist elaborately pintucked in the most fashionable way, with a little ruffle of filmy lace at the neck.
Other matches
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