noun
Common
rig
rihg
Rig (noun) means a large piece of equipment used for a specific task, especially for drilling or trucking. Example: “The oil rig operated around the clock offshore.”
noun
1
A large piece of equipment used for a specific task, especially for drilling or trucking.
"The oil rig operated around the clock offshore."
"He drove an eighteen-wheel rig across three states."
"A huge rig pulled the heavy cargo along the motorway."
2
The sails, masts, and ropes of a sailing ship, collectively.
"The old schooner's rig needed extensive repair."
"The ship's rig was rebuilt with new masts and fresh rope."
"Sailors climbed the rig to loosen the sails in the morning."
verb
1
To equip or set something up, often quickly or improvised.
"They rigged up a shelter from tarps and branches."
"He rigged the camera to a pole to film from above."
"We rigged a washing line between two trees using some spare rope."
2
To manipulate something dishonestly to produce a desired outcome.
"Investigators found the election had been rigged."
"He was accused of rigging the bidding process."
"The fairground owner rigged the game so that nobody could ever win the big prize."
How to use rig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a piece of heavy equipment (like a truck or drilling platform), or, as a verb, to set something up — or to dishonestly fix an outcome.
Common mistake
When rig means "to manipulate dishonestly," it needs an object: you rig an election, not just "rig".
Common pairings
rig an election
oil rig
rig up a solution
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Word forms
- Plural
- rigs
- Third person singular
- rigs
- Past tense
- rigged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The oil _____ operated around the clock offshore.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, probably North Germanic; compare Norwegian rigge (\"to rig, equip\").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rig
See all rhymes for rig →Frequently asked questions
What does “rig” mean?
The word “rig” means a large piece of equipment used for a specific task, especially for drilling or trucking. In plain terms, either a piece of heavy equipment (like a truck or drilling platform), or, as a verb, to set something up — or to dishonestly fix an outcome.
How do you pronounce “rig”?
“Rig” is pronounced rihg (/ɹɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rig” in a sentence?
Here is “rig” used in a sentence: “The oil rig operated around the clock offshore.”
What part of speech is “rig”?
Depending on how it is used, “rig” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rig” come from?
The word “rig” comes from Germanic. Origin uncertain, probably North Germanic; compare Norwegian rigge (\"to rig, equip\").
Is “rig” a common word?
“Rig” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rig” have?
“Rig” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large piece of equipment used for a specific task, especially for drilling or trucking.
What is the difference between a rig and an oil rig?
A rig is the general term for a large piece of equipment used for a specific task, such as drilling or trucking. An oil rig is one specific type of rig, built specifically for drilling oil wells.
What is the difference between "rig" used as a verb meaning to set up and "rig" meaning to manipulate dishonestly?
To rig something in the first sense means to equip or assemble it, often quickly or with improvised materials, such as rigging up a shelter. To rig something in the second sense means to manipulate it dishonestly to produce a desired outcome, as in rigging an election, and it carries a negative, disapproving tone.
What does "rig" mean when talking about a sailing ship?
On a sailing ship, the rig refers to the sails, masts, and ropes collectively, the equipment that lets the vessel be sailed. This is a distinct noun sense from a rig used for drilling or trucking.
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