ridge
rihj
Ridge (noun) means a long, narrow raised strip of land, such as a chain of hills or mountains. Example: “From the ridge we could see the whole village laid out below.”
noun
1
A long, narrow raised strip of land, such as a chain of hills or mountains.
"From the ridge we could see the whole village laid out below."
"They hiked along the ridge as the sun set over the valley."
"A thin ridge separated the two river valleys."
2
The horizontal line at the top of a roof where two sloping sides meet.
"Birds perched along the ridge of the barn roof."
"The roofer fixed a loose tile on the ridge."
"A row of tiles ran along the ridge of the old cottage."
3
In weather, an elongated area of high atmospheric pressure.
"A ridge of high pressure is moving in, so expect sunny days."
"Forecasters said a ridge over the Atlantic would bring settled weather."
"A ridge of high pressure kept the region dry for a week."
verb
1
To form into or mark with ridges.
"The farmer ridged the field before planting the potatoes."
"Years of rain had ridged the old dirt track."
"The wind ridged the sand into neat rows."
How to use ridge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA raised, elongated strip — of land, a roof, or high air pressure.
Common pairings
mountain ridge
roof ridge
ridge of high pressure
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Word forms
- Plural
- ridges
- Third person singular
- ridges
- Past tense
- ridged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
From the _____ we could see the whole village laid out below.
Etymology
From Old English hryċġ (\"back, spine, ridge\"), the same root that gives German Rücken (\"back\").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ridge
See all rhymes for ridge →Frequently asked questions
What does “ridge” mean?
The word “ridge” means a long, narrow raised strip of land, such as a chain of hills or mountains. In plain terms, a raised, elongated strip — of land, a roof, or high air pressure.
How do you pronounce “ridge”?
“Ridge” is pronounced rihj (/ɹɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ridge” in a sentence?
Here is “ridge” used in a sentence: “They hiked along the ridge as the sun set over the valley.”
What part of speech is “ridge”?
Depending on how it is used, “ridge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ridge” come from?
The word “ridge” comes from Old English. From Old English hryċġ (\"back, spine, ridge\"), the same root that gives German Rücken (\"back\").
Is “ridge” a common word?
“Ridge” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “ridge” have?
“Ridge” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, narrow raised strip of land, such as a chain of hills or mountains.
What is the difference between a ridge and a valley?
A ridge is a long, narrow raised strip of land, such as a chain of hills or a mountain crest. A valley is the low ground between hills or mountains. The ridge is the high line, and the valley is the dip beside or below it.
What is the difference between a ridge and a crest?
A ridge is the whole long, raised line of high ground running across a landscape. A crest is the very top edge or highest point along that line. Every ridge has a crest, but the crest is only its summit, not the full length.
Why is the top of a roof called a ridge?
On a roof, the ridge is the horizontal line at the very top where two sloping sides meet. It mirrors the land sense of the word, since it forms a long, narrow high edge. The board or beam along this line is often called the ridge board or ridge beam.
What words commonly go with ridge?
Common collocations include 'mountain ridge,' 'ridge line,' 'high ridge,' and 'roof ridge.' 'Mountain ridge' describes a chain of peaks, while 'roof ridge' names the top edge of a roof. 'Ridge line' refers to the outline the ridge makes against the sky.
