rig

[ rig ]

verb (used with object)

rigged, rigging.

1. Chiefly Nautical.
   1. to put in proper order for working or use.
   2. to fit (a ship, mast, etc.) with the necessary shrouds, stays, etc.
   3. to fit (shrouds, stays, sails, etc.) to the mast, yard, or the like.
2. to manipulate fraudulently:

   Two leading companies in the industry were fined for rigging prices.

3. to assemble, install, or prepare (often followed by up ).
4. to furnish or provide with equipment, clothing, etc.; fit (usually followed by out or up ):

   The ground crew rigged us out in leather helmets and bomber jackets.

noun

1. the arrangement of the masts, spars, sails, etc., on a boat or ship.
2. apparatus for some purpose; equipment; outfit; gear:

   Bring your rod and reel and all the rest of your fishing rig.

   This other PC over here is my main gaming rig.

3. Also called drill rig. the equipment used in drilling an oil well.
4. any combination trucking unit in which vehicles are hooked together, as a tractor-trailer.
5. any kind of truck.
6. a carriage, buckboard, sulky, or wagon together with the horse or horses that draw it.
7. Informal. costume or dress, especially when odd or conspicuous, or when designated for a particular purpose:

   He looks quite nifty in a butler's rig.

verb phrase

1. to equip or set up for use.
2. Nautical. to place in an inactive state, stowing all lines, tackles, and other removable parts.

rig

¹

/ rɪɡ /

verb

1. nautical to equip (a vessel, mast, etc) with (sails, rigging, etc)
2. nautical to set up or prepare ready for use
3. to put the components of (an aircraft, etc) into their correct positions
4. to manipulate in a fraudulent manner, esp for profit

   to rig an election

   to rig prices

noun

1. nautical the distinctive arrangement of the sails, masts, and other spars of a vessel
2. the installation used in drilling for and exploiting natural oil and gas deposits In fulldrilling rig

   an oil rig

3. apparatus or equipment; gear
4. an amateur radio operator's transmitting and receiving set
5. a carriage together with one or more horses
6. an articulated lorry

rig

²

/ rɪɡ /

noun

1. dialect.
   a ridge or raised strip of unploughed land in a ploughed field

Other Word Forms

• outrig verb (used with object) outrigged outrigging
• over·rigged adjective
• under·rigged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rig¹

First recorded in 1480–90; 1930–35 rig fordef 2; probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish rigg (noun), rigga (verb)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rig¹

C15: from Scandinavian; related to Norwegian rigga to wrap

Origin of rig²

a variant of ridge

Example Sentences

That last one saved the production time on set: Normally rigging a puppet into a backpack can take up to an hour, but the backpack Ochi was already in place.

From Los Angeles Times

The first was cybersecurity expert Christopher Krebs, who testified truthfully that the 2020 election was secure despite Trump and his mindless acolytes' conspiracy theories that the voting machines had been "rigged."

From Salon

Trump can’t have that, so he’s claiming the “rigged” election was in part Krebs’ responsibility.

From Salon

Right-wing cable channel Newsmax defamed Dominion Voting Systems by falsely reporting that the company was involved in rigging the 2020 presidential election, a Delaware judge ruled Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Still Wakes the Deep - a horror game set on a Scottish oil rig in the 1970s - took home three of the night's trophies.

From BBC

Related Words

• machinery