Ruffle

/ˈɹʌfəl/ · noun

Meaning

Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration..

Definitions by Sense

1. Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration.
2. Disturbance; agitation; commotion.
3. (military) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruff.
4. (zoology) The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur.
5. (transitive) To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
6. (transitive) To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
7. (intransitive) To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
8. (intransitive) To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.

Example Sentences

She loved the dress with the lace ruffle at the hem.

His dress was splendid; his hands glittered with rings, his snuff-box was covered with diamonds, and his ruffles were of the finest Mechlin lace.

Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […] Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.

to put the mind in a ruffle

Ruffle the end of the cuff.

The wind ruffled the papers.

Her sudden volley of insults ruffled his composure.

She […]smoothed the ruffled seas.

Synonyms for ruffle

Antonyms for ruffle

Related Words

Word Forms

• ruffles
• ruffling
• ruffled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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