noun
ruffle
RUH-fuhl
noun
1
A gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing.
"The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem."
verb
1
To disturb the smoothness of something, or to upset or irritate someone.
"The wind ruffled the surface of the lake."
"His blunt comment ruffled a few feathers at the meeting."
How to Use Ruffle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something (or someone) less smooth or calm — literally messing up fabric or feathers, or figuratively annoying someone.
Common pairings
ruffle feathers
ruffle someone's hair
ruffled sleeves
Word Forms
ruffled past tense, ruffles plural, ruffles singular
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Etymology
From Middle English ruffelen, of Germanic origin, related to words meaning "to wrinkle" or "to graze."