noun
ruffle
RUH-fuhl
Ruffle (noun) means a gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing. Example: “The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- ruffles
- Third person singular
- ruffles
- Past tense
- ruffled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dress had delicate _____ along the hem.
Etymology
From Middle English ruffelen, of Germanic origin, related to words meaning "to wrinkle" or "to graze."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ruffle
See all rhymes for ruffle →Frequently asked questions
What does “ruffle” mean?
The word “ruffle” means a gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing. In plain terms, to make something (or someone) less smooth or calm — literally messing up fabric or feathers, or figuratively annoying someone.
How do you pronounce “ruffle”?
“Ruffle” is pronounced RUH-fuhl (/ˈɹʌfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ruffle” in a sentence?
Here is “ruffle” used in a sentence: “The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem.”
What part of speech is “ruffle”?
Depending on how it is used, “ruffle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ruffle” come from?
The word “ruffle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English ruffelen, of Germanic origin, related to words meaning "to wrinkle" or "to graze.".
How many meanings does “ruffle” have?
“Ruffle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing.
