rip

¹

[ rip ]

verb (used with object)

, ripped, rip·ping.

1. to cut or tear apart in a rough or vigorous manner:

   to rip open a seam; to rip up a sheet.

2. to cut or tear away in a rough or vigorous manner:

   to rip bark from a tree.

3. to saw (wood) in the direction of the grain.
4. Digital Technology. to copy (audio or video files from a CD, DVD, or website) to a hard drive or mobile device, typically by extracting the raw data and changing the file format in the process: Compare burn ¹( def 30 ).DAE

   Can you rip this CD for me?

verb (used without object)

, ripped, rip·ping.

1. to become torn apart or split open:

   Cheap cloth rips easily.

2. Informal. to move with violence or great speed:

   The sports car ripped along in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes.

noun

1. a rent made by ripping; tear.

   Synonyms: cut, laceration

2. Slang. a cheat, swindle, or theft; ripoff:

   The average consumer doesn't realize that the new tax is a rip.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to utter angrily, as with an oath or exclamation.
2. Slang.
   1. to steal or pilfer.
   2. to rob or steal from.
   3. to swindle, cheat, or exploit; take advantage of:

      phony charity appeals that rip off a gullible public.

3. Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail.

rip

²

[ rip ]

noun

1. a stretch of turbulent water at sea or in a river.

rip

³

[ rip ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a dissolute or worthless person.
2. a worthless or worn-out horse.
3. something of little or no value.

Rip

⁴

[ rip ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Robert.

RIP

⁵

or R.I.P.

[ ahr-ahy-pee, rip ]

abbreviation for

1. rest in peace:
   1. (used, especially on grave markers and memorials, to wish peace after death upon a deceased person).
   2. Often Facetious. (used to indicate that a person or thing has been destroyed or damaged):

      RIP to my dignity after that awful spin class.

RIP

¹

abbreviation for

1. requiescat or requiescant in pace

rip

²

/ rɪp /

noun

1. short for riptide

ˈrip

³

/ rɪp /

verb

1. to tear or be torn violently or roughly; split or be rent
2. tr; foll by off or out to remove hastily, carelessly, or roughly

   they ripped out all the old kitchen units

3. informal.
   intr to move violently or precipitously; rush headlong
4. informal.
   intrfoll byinto to pour violent abuse (on); make a verbal attack (on)
5. tr to saw or split (wood) in the direction of the grain
6. informal.
   tr computing to copy (music or software) without permission or making any payment
7. let rip
   to act or speak without restraint

noun

1. the place where something is torn; a tear or split
2. short for ripsaw

rip

⁴

/ rɪp /

noun

1. something or someone of little or no value
2. an old worn-out horse
3. a dissolute character; reprobate

rip

/ rĭp /

1. A stretch of water in a river, estuary, or tidal channel made rough by waves meeting an opposing current.
2. A rip current.

R.I.P.

1. The abbreviation for “rest in peace,” often found on gravestones or in obituaries. From the Latin , requiescat in pace .

Derived Forms

• ˈrippable, adjective

Other Words From

• rippa·ble adjective
• un·rippa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rip¹

First recorded in 1400–50; 1960–65 rip ¹fordef 10; Middle English rippen “to tear out (seams, sutures), rip, rip off”; further origin uncertain; obscurely akin to Frisian rippe, Middle Dutch rippen, reppen; compare dialectal English ripple “to scratch”

Origin of rip²

First recorded in 1765–75; rip ¹, ripple ¹

Origin of rip³

First recorded in 1770–80; of uncertain origin; possibly alteration of rep, shortened form of reprobate

Origin of rip⁴

From Latin requiēscat (or requiēscant ) in pāce

Word History and Origins

Origin of rip¹

Latin: may he, she, or they rest in peace

Origin of rip²

C18: perhaps from rip ¹

Origin of rip³

C15: perhaps from Flemish rippen ; compare Middle Dutch rippen to pull

Origin of rip⁴

C18: perhaps altered from rep , shortened from reprobate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. let rip, Slang.
   1. to utter a series of oaths; swear.
   2. to speak or write violently, rapidly, or at great length.
   3. to allow to proceed at full speed or without restraint.

More idioms and phrases containing rip

• let it rip

Synonym Study

See tear ².

Example Sentences

When Bedouin residents erected makeshift tents, the police ripped those down as well and threatened them with arrest.

From Salon

"They’ve already been through so much — and each time it happens, it kind of rips apart an old wound," he said of his clients.

From Salon

His next shot, another three, easily ripped through the net.

From Los Angeles Times

Chastain ripped off her shirt, her sports bra on show, and dropped to her knees screaming as her team-mates ran towards her.

From BBC

Some children also benefit from a physical outlet for their anger, like ripping paper or squeezing a stress ball -- which more parents of boys encouraged than parent of girls.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• burst
• hack
• score
• shred
• slit
• split