Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈɹʌfəl/
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ˈɹʌfəl
Noun
Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration.
- Examples
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She loved the dress with the lace ruffle at the hem.
His dress was splendid; his hands glittered with rings, his snuff-box was covered with diamonds, and his ruffles were of the finest Mechlin lace.
More examples (1)
Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […] Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.
Disturbance; agitation; commotion.
- Examples
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to put the mind in a ruffle
A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruff.
The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur.
Verb
To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Ruffle the end of the cuff.
To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The wind ruffled the papers.
Her sudden volley of insults ruffled his composure.
More examples (6)
She […]smoothed the ruffled seas.
the fantastic revelries […] that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile
But, ever after, the small violence done / Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart, / As the sharp wind that ruffles all day long / A little bitter pool about a stone / On the bare coast.
These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Mr. Wonka, coming up close and raising both hands for silence. "Please, I beg you, do not ruffle yourselves! There's nothing to worry about."
[Finn] Russell created his side’s three first-half tries, ruffling a defence known for its composure, and dictated the match from the off.
To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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The night comes on, and the bleak winds / Do sorely ruffle.
To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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On his right shoulder his thick mane ', / Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.
To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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They would ruffle with jurors.
gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery
More examples (1)
He was engaged in finding the steward, and in aiding him to cloak his mistress; then with a ruffling air, a new acquirement, which he had picked up since he came to Paris, he made a way for her through the crowd.
To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
[T]he barge with oar and sail / Moved from the brink, like some full-breasted swan / That, fluting a wild carol ere her death, / Ruffles her pure cold plume, and takes the flood / With swarthy webs.
To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
To throw together in a disorderly manner.
- Examples
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Within a thicket I reposed; when round / I ruffled up fall'n leaves in heap; and found, / Let fall from heaven, a sleep interminate.
Noun
a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
- Broader terms
a high tight collar
a noisy fight
- Synonyms
Verb
stir up (water) so as to form ripples
trouble or vex
- Examples
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ruffle somebody's composure
to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
- Broader terms
- Examples
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He struts around like a rooster in a hen house
discompose
- Broader terms
- Examples
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This play is going to ruffle some people
She has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues
twitch or flutter
- Examples
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the paper flicked
mix so as to make a random order or arrangement
- Broader terms
- Examples
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shuffle the cards
erect or fluff up
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the bird ruffled its feathers
disturb the smoothness of
- Broader terms
- Examples
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ruffle the surface of the water
pleat or gather into a ruffle
- Synonyms
- Examples
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ruffle the curtain fabric