Romanian (-mein´yэn, -mei´ni: эn) •adj. of Romania, its people, their language, etc. •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Romania 2 the Romance language of the Romanians
Romanic (-mæn´ik) •adj., n. ROMANCE [L Romanicus]
Romanism (rou´mэn iz'эm) •n. 1 Roman Catholicism: hostile usage 2 the spirit and influence of ancient Rome
Romanist (-ist) •n. a person who studies or is expert in Roman law, antiquities, etc. [ModL Romanista]
Romanize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to make Roman in character, spirit, etc. 2 to make Roman Catholic 3 to respell in the ROMAN ALPHABET •vi. 1 to follow or be influenced by Roman customs, law, etc. 2 to conform to Roman Catholicism Ro'man·i·za´tion •n.
Romano (rou mä´nou) •n. a dry, sharp, very hard cheese orig. of Italy, made from sheep's, cow's, or goat's milk, usually grated for sprinkling on pasta, soups, etc. [It, ROMAN]
Romanov (rou´mэ nöf´, rou mä´nöf´) 1 name of the ruling family of Russia from 1613 to 1917 2 Mi·kha·il Feo·do·ro·vich (mi khä i:l´ fyô´dô řô vich) 1598-1645; 1st Romanov czar & founder of the dynasty Also sp. Romanoff
Romans (rou´mэnz) •n. a book of the New Testament, a message from the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome Abbrev. Rom or Ro
Romansch or Romansh (rou mänsh´, -mænsh´) •n. the Rhaeto-Romanic dialect spoken in Grisons, a Swiss canton: sometimes used interchangeably for Ladin or for all the Rhaeto-Romanic dialects [Romansch rumansch, rumonsch < VL romanice: see ROMANCE]
romantic (rou mæn´tik) •adj. 1 of, having the nature of, characteristic of, or characterized by romance 2 without a basis in fact; fanciful, fictitious, or fabulous 3 not practical; visionary or quixotic {a romantic scheme} 4 full of or dominated by thoughts, feelings, and attitudes characteristic of or suitable for romance; passionate, adventurous, idealistic, etc. {a romantic youth} 5 a) of, characteristic of, or preoccupied with ardent, idealized lovemaking or courtship b) suited for romance or lovemaking {a romantic night} 6 [often R-] of or characteristic of romanticism and the Romantic Movement: contrasted with CLASSIC, CLASSICAL, REALISTIC, etc. •n. 1 a romantic person 2 [often R-] an adherent of romanticism, as in literature or music ro·man´ti·cal·ly •adv. [Fr romantique < obs. romant (see ROMAUNT) + -ique, -IC]
Romantic Movement the revolt in the late 18th and early 19th cent. against the artistic, political, and philosophical principles that had become associated with neoclassicism: characterized in literature, music, painting, etc. by freedom of form, emphasis on feeling, originality, and the creative imagination and on the artist's own personality, and sympathetic interest in nature, medievalism, the common man, etc.
romanticism (rou mæn´tэ siz'эm) •n. 1 romantic spirit, outlook, tendency, etc. 2 the spirit, attitudes, style, etc. of, or adherence to, the Romantic Movement or a similar movement: contrasted with CLASSICISM, REALISM, etc. [usually R-] ROMANTIC MOVEMENT
romanticist (-sist) •n. an adherent of romanticism in literature, painting, music, etc.
romanticize (-saiz') -cized', -ciz'ing •vt. to treat or regard romantically; give a romantic character to or interpretation of •vi. to have or uphold romantic ideas, attitudes, etc. ro·man'ti·ci·za´tion •n.
Romany (räm´э ni:, rou´mэ-) •n. 1 pl. -ny or -nies a Gypsy 2 the Indic language of the Gypsies, which occurs with dialectal variations in each country where they live •adj. of the Gypsies, their language, etc. Also sp. Rom´ma·ny [Romany romani, fem. & pl. of romano, Gypsy < rom, a man, husband, Gypsy < Sans dombah, low-caste musician]
Romany rye (rai) a person not a Gypsy who associates with the Gypsies, speaks their language, etc. [Romany romani (see ROMANY) + rei, a lord < Sans rājan, king: see RAJAH]
romaunt (rou mänt´, -mönt´) •n. [Archaic] ROMANCE (n. 1 & 2) [OFr romant, var. of romanz: see ROMANCE]
Romberg (räm´børg'), Sigmund 1887-1951: U.S. composer, born in Hungary
Rome (roum) 1 capital of Italy, on the Tiber River: formerly, the capital of the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, & the Papal States: pop. 2,840,000: It. name ROMA 2 city in central N.Y., on the Mohawk River, near Utica: pop. 44,000 [after prec.] [L Roma, of Etr orig.]
Rome (Beauty) a somewhat tart, red winter apple [after Rome Township, S Ohio, where first grown]
Romeo (rou´mi: ou') the hero of Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595), son of Montague and lover of Juliet, daughter of Capulet: at the death of the lovers their feuding families become reconciled •n. pl. -os' 1 a) a man who is an ardent lover b) a philanderer Æ 2 [r-] a man's house slipper with elastic in the sides [It < Romolo < L Romulus]
Romford (räm´fэrd, rûm´-) former municipal borough in Essex, SE England: now part of Havering, near London: pop. 115,000
Rommel (räm´эl), Erwin (Johannes Eugen) 1891-1944; Ger. field marshal in World War II
Romney (rûm´ni:, räm´-), George 1734-1802; Eng. painter
romp (rämp) •n. 1 a person who romps, esp. a girl 2 boisterous, lively play or frolic [< the vi.] 3 a) an easy, winning gait in a race {to win in a romp} b) an easy victory •vi. 1 to play or frolic in a boisterous, lively way 2 to win with ease in a race, contest, etc. [< earlier ramp, vulgar woman, hussy, prob. < ME rampen < OFr ramper: see RAMP²]
romper (räm´pэr) •n. 1 a person who romps 2 [pl.] a type of loosefitting, one-piece, outer garment with bloomerlike pants, for very young children
Romulus (räm´yu lэs) Rom. Myth. a son of Mars and founder and first king of Rome, deified as Quirinus: he and his twin brother Remus, left as infants to die in the Tiber, are suckled by a she-wolf [L]
Ronald (rän´эld) a masculine name: dim. Ron [Scot < ON Rögnvaldr, akin to OHG Raganald: see REGINALD]
rondeau (rän´dou') pl. -deaux' (-douz') •n. 1 a short, lyrical poem of usually fifteen lines (three stanzas), with only two rhymes and with an unrhymed refrain at the end of the second and third stanzas 2 a) RONDO b) a medieval French monophonic or polyphonic song with many repetitions of two themes or phrases [Fr, earlier rondel < rond, ROUND¹]
rondel (rän´dэl, -del') •n. 1 a kind of rondeau, usually with fourteen lines, two rhymes, and the first two lines used as a refrain in the middle and at the end (the second line occasionally being omitted at the end) 2 a circular object; esp., a small round or disk-shaped bead used as a spacer, as in a necklace [ME < OFr: see RONDEAU]
rondo (rän´dou') pl. -dos' •n. Music a composition or movement, often the last movement of a sonata, having its principal theme stated three or more times in the same key, interposed with subordinate themes [It < Fr rondeau: see RONDEAU]
Rondônia (řôñ dô´nyэ) state in W Brazil, on the border of Bolivia: 93,820 sq. mi. (242,992 sq. km) pop. 491,000; cap. Pôrto Velho
rondure (rän´dyur') •n. [Rare] a circle or sphere; roundness [Fr rondeur < rond, ROUND¹]
ronin (rou´nin) pl. ro´nin •n. in feudal Japan, a samurai who lost his lord and was forced to wander, often living as a bandit
Ronsard (řouñ såř´), Pierre de 1524-85; Fr. poet
Röntgen (rent´gэn; Ger řënt´gэn), Wilhelm Konrad var. sp. of Wilhelm Konrad ROENTGEN
rood (ru:d) •n. 1 orig., a cross as used in crucifixion; specif., the cross on which Jesus was crucified 2 any cross representing this; crucifix, esp. a large one at the entrance to the chancel or choir of a medieval church, often supported on a rood beam or rood screen 3 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a) an old unit of linear measure varying locally from 5½ to 8 yards; sometimes, 1 rod b) an old unit of land measure usually equal to ¼ acre (40 square rods) [ME rode < OE rod, a cross, measure; akin to rodd: see ROD]
rood screen an ornamental screen, usually with a rood above it supported by a beam (rood beam), serving as a partition between the nave and the chancel of a church
roof (ru:f, ruf) pl. roofs •n. 1 the outside top covering of a building 2 figuratively, a house or home 3 the top or peak of anything {the roof of the world} 4 anything like a roof in position or use {the roof of the mouth} •vt. to provide or cover with or as with a roof raise the roof [Slang] 1 to be very noisy, as in applause, anger, celebration, etc. 2 to complain loudly roof´less •adj. [ME rof < OE hrof, akin to ON, roof, shed < IE base *rapo- > OSlav stropu, roof]
roof garden 1 a garden on the flat roof of a building 2 the roof or top floor of a high building, decorated as a garden and used as for a restaurant
roofer (-эr) •n. a person who builds or repairs roofs
roofing (-iŋ) •n. 1 the act of covering with a roof 2 material for a roof or roofs 3 a roof
rooftop (-täp') •n. the roof of a building
rooftree (-tri:') •n. 1 the ridgepole of a roof 2 a roof
rook¹ (ruk) •n. 1 a gregarious European crow (Corvus frugilegus) with a bare spot by its bill 2 a swindler; cheat •vt., vi. to swindle; cheat [prob. from the bird's thievishness] [ME roc < OE hroc, akin to Ger ruch < IE echoic base *ker- > CROW¹, RAVEN¹]
rook² (ruk) •n. Chess either of the two corner pieces shaped like a castle tower: it can move in a vertical or horizontal direction only over any number of consecutive, unoccupied squares; castles [ME rok < OFr roc < Ar rukhkh < Pers rukh]
rookery (ruk´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 a breeding place or colony of rooks 2 a breeding place or colony of other gregarious birds or animals, as penguins or seals 3 [Now Rare] a crowded tenement house or tenement district; esp., a slum
rookie (ruk´i:) •n. [Slang] 1 an inexperienced recruit in the army Æ 2 any novice, as on a police force or in a professional sport [altered < ? RECRUIT]
rooky (ruk´i:) •adj. full of or inhabited by rooks
room (ru:m; also rum) •n. 1 space, esp. enough space, to contain something or in which to do something {room for one more, room to move around in} 2 suitable scope or opportunity {room for doubt} 3 a space within a building enclosed by walls or separated from other similar spaces by walls or partitions 4 [pl.] living quarters; lodgings; apartment 5 the people gathered together in a room 6 [Obs.] a position or office Æ vi. to occupy living quarters; have lodgings; lodge •vt. to provide with a room or lodgings [ME roum < OE rum, akin to ON, OHG < IE base *rewe-, to open, room > L rus, land]
room and board sleeping accommodations and meals
room clerk a clerk at a hotel or motel who registers guests, assigns them rooms, etc.
room temperature a comfortable indoor temperature, generally considered to be between 20 and 25°C (68 to 77°F)
roomer (ru:m´эr) •n. a person who rents a room or rooms to live in; lodger
roomette (ru: met´, ru-) •n. a small room for one person in a railroad sleeping car
roomful (ru:m´ful') pl. -fuls' •n. 1 as much or as many as will fill a room 2 the people or objects in a room, collectively
roomie (-i:) •n. [Colloq.] ROOMMATE
rooming house a house with furnished rooms for rent
roommate (ru:m´meit') •n. a person with whom one shares a room or rooms
roomy (ru:m´i:) room´i·er, room´i·est •adj. having plenty of room; spacious room´i·ly •adv. room´i·ness •n.
roorback or roorbach (rur´bæk') •n. a false or slanderous story devised for political effect, esp. against a candidate for office [after the imaginary author of a nonexistent book, Roorback's Tour, etc. containing spurious charges against candidate James Knox POLK]
roose (ru:z; Scot řöz) roosed, roos´ing •vt. [Scot. or North Eng.] praise [ME n. ros, v. rosen < ON n. hros, v. horsa]
Roosevelt (rou´zэ velt', -vэlt; rouz´velt; by some ru:´zэ-) 1 a masculine name 2 (Anna) Eleanor 1884-1962; U.S. writer & delegate at UN: wife of Franklin 3 Franklin Del·a·no (del´э nou') 1882-1945; 32d president of the U.S. (1933-45) 4 Theodore 1858-1919; 26th president of the U.S. (1901-09)
roost (ru:st) •n. 1 a perch on which birds, esp. domestic fowls, can rest or sleep 2 a place with perches for birds 3 a place for resting, sleeping, etc. •vi. 1 to rest, sit, sleep, etc. on a perch 2 to stay or settle down, as for the night come home to roost to have repercussions, esp. disagreeable ones; boomerang rule the roost to be master [ME < OE hrost, akin to MDu roest < IE base *kred-, timberwork > OSlav krada, woodpile, Goth hrōt, roof]
rooster (ru:s´tэr) •n. the male of the chicken; cock [prec. + -ER]
Root (ru:t), Elihu 1845-1937; U.S. statesman: secretary of state (1905-09)
root beer a carbonated drink made of or flavored with extracts from the roots and bark of certain plants
root borer any insect or insect larva that bores into the roots of plants
root canal 1 a small, tubular channel, normally filled with pulp, in the root of a tooth 2 a treatment or procedure involving the opening, cleaning, filling, etc. of a root canal
root cap the loose cells at the tip of a growing root, rubbed off by the motion of the root tip through the soil and constantly renewed from within
root cellar an underground storage room for vegetables, esp. root crops
root climber Bot. a climber that adheres to its support by means of roots
root crop a crop, as turnips or beets, grown for the edible roots
root hair Bot. any of the thin-walled, hairlike tubular outgrowths from a growing root, which serve to absorb water and minerals from the soil
root mean square Electronics the effective value of a periodic quantity, as a current, equal to the square root of the average of the squares of a set of values
root¹ (ru:t, rut) •n. 1 the part of a plant, usually below the ground, that lacks nodes, shoots, and leaves, holds the plant in position, draws water and nourishment from the soil, and stores food 2 loosely, any underground part of a plant, as a rhizome 3 the attached or embedded part of a bodily structure, as of the teeth, hair, nails, tongue, etc.: see TOOTH, illus. 4 the source, origin, or cause of an action, quality, condition, etc. 5 a person or family that has many descendants; ancestor 6 [pl.] the close ties one has with some place or people as through birth, upbringing, long and sympathetic association, etc. 7 a lower or supporting part; base 8 an essential or basic part; core {the root of the matter} 9 Math. a) a quantity that, multiplied by itself a specified number of times, produces a given quantity {4 is the square root (4 x 4) of 16 and the cube root (4 x 4 x 4) of 64} b) a number that, when substituted for the unknown quantity in an equation, will satisfy the equation 10 Music the basic tone of a chord, on which the chord is constructed; often, the fundamental 11 Linguis. the fundamental element of a word or form, exclusive of all affixes and inflectional phonetic changes •vi. 1 to begin to grow by putting out roots 2 to become fixed, settled, etc. •vt. 1 to fix the roots of in the ground 2 to establish; settle SYN. ORIGIN root up (or out or away) to pull out by the roots; remove or destroy completely take root 1 to begin growing by putting out roots 2 to become settled or established [ME rote < Late OE < ON rot, akin to OE wyrt, Ger wurzel < IE base *wrād-, twig, root > Gr rhiza, L radix, root, ramus, branch]
root² (ru:t, rut) •vt. to dig or turn (up or out) with or as with the snout •vi. 1 to dig in the ground, as with the snout 2 to search about; rummage {to root through the litter} 3 [Colloq.] to work hard; drudge {to root for a living} Æ 4 [Colloq.] a) to encourage a contestant or team by applauding and cheering b) to lend moral support to one seeking success, recovery, etc. Usually with for root´er •n. [formerly also wrote, rout < ME wroten < OE wrotan, to root up < wrot, snout < IE base *wer-, to tear up > L rostrum, beak]
rootage (ru:t´ij, rut´-) •n. 1 a taking root or being firmly fixed by means of roots 2 the roots of a plant, collectively
rootless (-lis) •adj. having no roots or no stabilizing ties, as to society root´less·ly •adv. root´less·ness •n.
rootlet (-lit) •n. a little root or small branch of a root
rootstock (-stäk') •n. 1 Bot. a) RHIZOME b) a plant onto which another is grafted as a new top 2 Zool. the rootlike, attached portion of a hydroid colony
rooty (ru:t´i:, rut´i:) root´i·er, root´i·est •adj. 1 having many roots 2 like a root or roots root´i·ness •n.
rope (roup) •n. 1 a thick, strong cord made of intertwisted strands of fiber, thin wires, leather strips, etc. 2 [pl.] such cords strung between posts to enclose a boxing ring 3 a) such a cord, or a noose made of it, for hanging a person b) death by hanging (with the) 4 LASSO 5 a ropelike string of things put together by or as by twisting, twining, braiding, or threading {a rope of pearls} 6 a ropelike, sticky formation in a liquid, as wine •vt. roped, rop´ing 1 to fasten, tie, or confine with or as with a rope 2 to connect or tie together (esp. mountain climbers) by a rope 3 to separate, mark off, or enclose with a rope: usually with in, off, or out Æ 4 to catch or throw with a lasso •vi. to become ropelike and sticky {to cook candy until it ropes} give someone (enough) rope [Colloq.] to allow one freedom of action in the expectation that he will overreach himself know the ropes [Colloq.] to be fully acquainted with the details or procedures of something on the ropes 1 Boxing knocked against the ropes 2 [Slang] near collapse or ruin Æ rope in [Slang] to entice or trick into doing something the end of one's rope the end of one's endurance, resources, etc. rop´er •n. [ME rop < OE rap, akin to Ger reif (Goth raip) < IE *reip-, rag, piece of cloth < base *rei-, to tear > REAP, REEF²]
ropery (rou´pэr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 [Now Rare] a place for the manufacture of ropes 2 [Archaic] ROGUERY
ropewalk (roup´wök') •n. a long, low, narrow building, shed, etc. in which ropes are made
ropewalker (-wök'эr) •n. a performer who walks or does tricks on a tightrope Also rope´danc'er (-dæn'sэr, -dän'-) rope´walk'ing •n.
ropy (rou´pi:) rop´i·er, rop´i·est •adj. 1 forming sticky, stringy threads, as some liquids; glutinous 2 like a rope or ropes 3 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Colloq.] a) bad, poor, inferior, etc. b) somewhat unwell: also rop´ey rop´i·ness •n.
roque (rouk) •n. a formalized variety of croquet played with short-handled mallets on a hard court with a raised border [< CROQUET]
Roquefort (cheese) (rouk´fэrt) trademark for a strong cheese with a bluish mold, made from goats' and ewes' milk [after Roquefort, town in S France where made]
roquelaure (räk´э lör', rou´kэ-) •n. a heavy cloak, usually knee-length, often fur-trimmed and silk-lined, worn by men in the 18th cent. [Fr, after the Duc de Roquelaure (1656-1738)]
roquet (rou kei´) -queted´ (-keid), -quet´ing (-kei´iŋ) Croquet, etc. to cause one's ball to hit (another player's ball) •vt., vi. •n. the act of roqueting [< CROQUET]
rorqual (rör´kwэl) •n. any of a family (Balaenopteridae) of whalebone whales with a well-developed dorsal fin and longitudinal furrows on its belly and throat; esp., any of a genus (Balaenoptera) that includes the sei whale and blue whale [Fr < Norw röyrkval < ON reytharhvalr < reythr, rorqual (prob. akin to rautha < IE base *reudh-, RED) + hvalr, WHALE¹: hence lit., red whale, from the reddish streaks in the skin]
Rorschach test (rör´shäk') Psychol. a test for the analysis of personality, in which the person being tested tells what is suggested to him or her by a standard series of inkblot designs: his or her responses are then analyzed and interpreted [after H. Rorschach (1884-1922), Swiss psychiatrist]
Rosa (rou´zэ; It řô´zä), Mon·te (mänt'i:; It môn'te) mountain in the Pennine Alps, on the Swiss-Italian border: 15,217 ft. (4,638 m)
rosaceous (rou zei´shэs) •adj. 1 of the rose family of plants 2 like a rose 3 rose-colored; rosy [ModL rosaceus < L, made of roses]
Rosalie (rou´zэ li:', räz´э-) a feminine name [Fr, prob. < L rosalia, annual ceremony of hanging garlands of roses on tombs < rosa, ROSE¹]
Rosalind (räz´э lind) a feminine name [Sp Rosalinda, as if from rosa linda, pretty rose, but prob. ult. < OHG Roslindis < Gmc *hros, HORSE + lindi, LITHE]
Rosamond or Rosamund (räz´э mэnd, rou´zэ-) a feminine name: dim. Roz [ME Rosamunda < OFr Rosamonde or Sp Rosamunda < ML Rosamunda, as if < L rosa munda, clean rose, but ult. < OHG Hrosmund < Gmc hros, HORSE + mund, hand, protection: see MANUAL]
rosaniline (rou zæn´эl in, -i:n', -ain') •n. a crystalline base, C20H21N3O, made by heating aniline and toluidine with nitrobenzene: many aniline dyes are derivatives of it [ROS(E)¹ + ANILINE]
rosarian (rou zer´i: эn) •n. a person who cultivates roses [< L rosarium, a rose garden (see ROSARY) + -AN]
Rosario (rou zär´i: ou'; Sp řô sä´řyô) city & port in EC Argentina, on the Paraná River: pop. 935,000
rosary (rou´zэr i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 R.C.Ch. a) a string of usually five sets of beads (one large bead and ten small ones in each set) used in a meditative devotional exercise: at each large bead an Our Father is said; at each small one, a Hail Mary; at the end of each set, the lesser doxology b) this group of prayers 2 any string of beads used in praying [ME rosarie < L rosarium, rose garden (in ML, rosary, garland of roses) < neut. of rosarius, of roses < rosa, ROSE¹]
Roscoe (räs´kou) a masculine name [< ?] roscoe (räs´kou) •n. [Slang] a gun, esp. a handgun
Roscommon (räs käm´эn) county in Connacht province, WC Ireland: 951 sq. mi. (2,463 sq. km); pop. 56,000
Rose (rouz) a feminine name: dim. Rosie; var. Rosita; equiv. It. & Sp. Rosa [see ROSE¹]
rosé (rou zei´) •n. a pink wine made from certain red-wine grapes, with the skins left in the juice during early fermentation just long enough to tinge it with color [Fr, lit., pink]
rose acacia a shrubby plant (Robinia hispida) of the pea family, with bristly stems and large, rose-colored flowers, native to the SE U.S. and often cultivated
rose campion MULLEIN PINK
rose chafer Æ a small North American scarab beetle (Macrodactylus subspinosus) that, as a larva, feeds on plant roots, and, as an adult, on leaves and flowers Also called rose bug
rose fever a kind of hay fever believed to be caused by the pollen of roses Also rose cold
rose geranium any of several pelargoniums grown for their pleasant aroma
rose mallow any of several plants (genus Hibiscus) of the mallow family, with showy flowers; esp., a marsh species (H. palustris) having large pink, red, or white flowers
rose moss PORTULACA
rose of Jericho an Asiatic plant (Anastatica hierochuntica) of the crucifer family, with oval leaves and spikes of small, white flowers: it curls up tightly when dry and expands again when moistened
rose of Sharon Æ 1 a hardy plant (Hibiscus syriacus) of the mallow family, with white, red, pink, or purplish flowers 2 a plant mentioned in the Bible, variously identified as a tulip, crocus, etc.: S. of Sol. 2:1 3 [Chiefly Brit.] a shrubby species (Hypericum calycinum) of Saint Johnswort, with large, yellow flowers [after Heb sharon, a district in Israel (see S. of Sol. 2:1), aphetic for yesharon, lit., the plain < yashav, adj., level]
rose oil attar of roses: see ATTAR
rose quartz a variety of quartz, pink to deep rose in color, often used for gems, esp. when translucent
rose water a preparation consisting of water and attar of roses, used as a perfume
rose window a decorative circular window with a symmetrical pattern of roselike tracery or mullions arranged like the spokes of a wheel
rose¹ (rouz) •n. 1 any of a genus (Rosa) of shrubs of the rose family, characteristically with prickly stems, alternate compound leaves, and five-parted, usually fragrant flowers of red, pink, white, yellow, etc. having many stamens 2 the flower of any of these plants 3 any of several similar or related plants 4 pinkish red or purplish red 5 ROSETTE 6 a round, perforated nozzle for a hose, sprinkling can, etc. 7 a) a form in which gems, esp. diamonds, are cut, with a flat, round base and a multifaceted upper surface b) a gem cut in this way 8 a compass card or a representative of this, as on maps •adj. 1 of or having to do with a rose or roses 2 rose-colored 3 rose-scented 4 designating a large and widely distributed family (Rosaceae, order Rosales) of wild andcultivated dicotyledonous flowers, shrubs, and trees, including cinquefoils, meadowsweets, hawthorns, strawberries, apples, peaches, and almonds •vt. rosed, ros´ing to make rose-colored; specif., to flush (the cheeks, etc.) come up roses [Colloq.] to turn out very well under the rose SUB ROSA rose´like' •adj. [ME < OE < L rosa < Gr rhodon: see RHODA]
rose² (rouz) •vi., vt. pt. of RISE
roseate (rou´zi: it, -eit') •adj. 1 rose-colored; rosy 2 bright, cheerful, or optimistic ro´se·ate·ly •adv. [< L roseus, rosy < rosa, ROSE¹ + -ATE¹]
rosebay (rouz´bei') •n. 1 RHODODENDRON 2 OLEANDER
rose-breasted grosbeak (-bres´tid) a North American passerine bird (Pheucticus ludovicianus, family Emberizidae), the male of which is black and white, with a rose-colored triangular patch on the breast, and pink wing lining
rosebud (-bûd') •n. the bud of a rose
rosebush (-bush') •n. a shrub that bears roses
rose-colored (-kûl'эrd) •adj. 1 pinkish-red or purplish-red 2 bright, cheerful, or optimistic through rose-colored glasses with optimism, esp. undue optimism
Rosecrans (rouz´krænz'), William Starke (stärk) 1819-98: Union general in the Civil War
rosefish (rouz´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of several reddish food fishes, as two scorpion fishes (Sebastes marinus and Helicolenus dactylopterus) of the Atlantic
Rosemary (rouz´mer'i:) a feminine name: var. Rose·ma·rie (rouz'mэ ri:´) [see ROSEMARY] rosemary (-mer'i:) •n. an evergreen herb (Rosmarinus officinalis) of the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region, with clusters of small, light-blue flowers and leaves that yield a fragrant essential oil, used in perfumes, in cooking, etc. [altered (after ROSE¹ & MARY) < earlier rosmarine < L ros marinus (also ros maris), lit., dew of the sea < ros, dew (< IE *rosā < *eres, to flow: see RACE¹) + marinus, MARINE]
Rosemead (rouz´mi:d') city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 52,000 [after L. J. Rose, local horse breeder]
roseola (rou zi:´э lэ, rou'zi: ou´lэ) •n. any rose-colored rash; esp., rubella: also called rose rash [ModL, dim. < L roseus, rosy]
roseslug (rouz´slûg') •n. the sluglike larva of certain sawflies (esp. Endelomyia aethiops) that eats the leaves of roses
Rosetta stone (rou zet´э) a tablet of black basalt found in 1799 at Rosetta, a town in Egypt: because it bore parallel inscriptions in Greek and in ancient Egyptian demotic and hieroglyphic characters, it provided a key to the deciphering of ancient Egyptian writing
rosette (rou zet´) •n. 1 an ornament made of ribbons, threads, etc. gathered or tufted in the shape of a rose 2 any formation, arrangement, etc. resembling or suggesting a rose 3 Archit. a painted or sculptured ornament, usually circular, having petals and leaves radiating symmetrically from the center 4 Bot. a circular cluster of leaves, petals, or other organs, esp. such a cluster produced at the base of a plant as a means of overwintering [Fr < OFr, dim. of rose, a rose < L rosa, ROSE¹]
Roseville (rouz´vil') city in SE Mich.: suburb of Detroit: pop. 51,000 [after Wm. Rose, first local postmaster (1836)]
rosewood (rouz´wud') •n. 1 any of a number of valuable hard, reddish, black-streaked woods, sometimes with a roselike odor, obtained from certain tropical trees (esp. genus Dalbergia of the pea family) and used in making furniture, pianos, etc. 2 a tree yielding such wood [from its odor]
Rosh Hashana (roush´ hэ shö´nэ, -shä´-; Heb řoush´ hä shä nä´) the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the 1st and 2d days of Tishri: also sp. Rosh Hashona or Rosh Hashanah [Heb rosh-hashana, lit., head (or first) of the year]
Rosicrucian (rou'zэ kru´shэn, räz'э-) •n. 1 any of a number of persons in the 17th and 18th cent. who professed to be members of a secret society said to have various sorts of occult lore and power 2 a member of any of several later groups with doctrines and practices said to be based on those of these persons; esp., the Rosicrucian Order, or the Ancient Mystic Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) •adj. of or characteristic of the Rosicrucians Ro'si·cru´cian·ism' •n. [Rosicruc- (< L rosa, a rose + crux, gen. crucis, a cross), Latinized form of the Ger name of the reputed founder, Christian Rosenkreuz + -IAN]
rosily (rou´zэ li:) •adv. 1 in a rosy manner; brightly; cheerfully; optimistically 2 with a rosy color
rosin (räz´эn) •n. the hard, brittle resin, light-yellow to almost black in color, remaining after oil of turpentine has been distilled from crude turpentine or obtained from chemically treated pine stumps: it is used in making varnish, inks, soaps, insulation, etc., and is rubbed on violin bows to prevent slipping on the strings, or on the hands to prevent slipping on gymnastic equipment, etc. •vt. to rub with rosin ros´in·ous or ros´in·y •adj. [ME, altered < MFr, resine, RESIN]
rosin oil a viscous, odorless oil, obtained by the fractional distillation of rosin and used as a lubricant, etc.
rosiness (rou´zi: nis) •n. a rosy quality or state
rosinweed (räz´эn wi:d') •n. 1 any of a genus (Silphium) of North American plants of the composite family that have resinous juice, sticky foliage, and strong odors, including the compass plant 2 any of several similar resinous plants
Rosita (rou zi:t´э) a feminine name See ROSE
Ross (rös) 1 Betsy (Mrs. Elizabeth Griscom Ross) 1752-1836; Am. woman reputed to have made the first Am. flag 2 Harold W(allace) 1892-1951; U.S. magazine editor 3 Sir James Clark 1800-62; Brit. polar explorer 4 Sir John 1777-1856; Brit. arctic explorer, born in Scotland: uncle of Sir James 5 Sir Ronald 1857-1932; Eng. pathologist, born in India
Ross and Cromarty (rös' ænd kräm´эr ti:) former county in N Scotland, now in the region of Highland
Ross Dependency region in Antarctica, south of New Zealand and south of 60° latitude: claimed by Great Britain & administered by New Zealand: area, c. 160,000 sq. mi. (414,000 sq. km) [see ROSS SEA]
Ross Ice Shelf frozen S section of the Ross Sea, between Victoria Land & Marie Byrd Land: also called Ross Shelf Ice
Ross Sea arm of the Pacific, along the coast of Antarctica, east of Victoria Land [after Sir James Clark ROSS, who discovered it]
Rossetti (rэ zet´i:, -set´i:) 1 Christina (Georgina) 1830-94; Eng. poet 2 Dante Gabriel 1828-82; Eng. Pre-Raphaelite painter & poet: brother of Christina
Rossini (rou si:´ni:), Gio·ac·chi·no (Antonio) (jô'äk ki:´nô) 1792-1868; It. composer
Rostand (řôs täñ´), Ed·mond (ed mouñ´) 1868-1918; Fr. dramatist & poet
rostellate (räs´tэ leit', -lit) •adj. having a rostellum [ModL rostellatus < rostellum: see ROSTELLUM]
rostellum (räs tel´эm) pl. -tel´la (-э) •n. 1 Bot. a sterile, flaplike modified stigma that separates the anthers from the stigmas in some orchids 2 Zool. a) a small, rounded projection bearing hooks on the head of certain tapeworms b) a beak-shaped, sucking mouthpart in certain insects ros·tel´lar (-эr) •adj. [Modl < L, dim. of rostrum: see ROSTRUM]
roster (räs´tэr) •n. 1 a list of military or naval personnel or groups, specif. one showing their regular assignments and periods of duty 2 any list; roll [Du rooster, orig., gridiron (< roosten, to roast), hence a grating, list (from the ruled paper used in making lists)]
Rostock (räs´täk'; Ger řôs´tôk') seaport in NE Germany, on the Baltic, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: pop. 242,000
Rostov (rä´stäv', -stöf'; Russ řô stôf´) city in SW Russia, at the mouth of the Don: pop. 986,000: also called Ros´tov'-on-Don´ (-än dän´)
Rostovtzeff (rэ stöf´tsef'), M(ichael) I(vanovich) 1870-1952; U.S. historian, born in Russia
rostral (räs´trэl) •adj. 1 of, in, or on a rostrum 2 decorated with rostrums, or beaks of ships {rostral pillars} [LL rostralis]
rostrate (-treit') •adj. having a rostrum [L rostratus]
rostrum (räs´trэm) pl. -trums or -tra •n. 1 in ancient Rome, a) a curved, beaklike projection at the prow of a ship; esp., such a projection on a war galley, used for ramming enemy vessels; beak b) the speakers' platform in the Forum, decorated with such beaks taken from captured ships 2 a) any platform, stage, etc. for public speaking b) public speaking, or public speakers collectively 3 Biol. a beak or beaklike process or part [L, beak, in pl., speakers' platform (see 1b) < rosus, pp. of rodere, to gnaw, peck: see RAT]
rosy (rou´zi:) ros´i·er, ros´i·est •adj. 1 like a rose, esp. in color; rose-red or pink; often, blushing or flushed with a healthy, blooming red {rosy cheeks} 2 [Archaic] made or consisting of, or adorned with, roses 3 bright, promising, cheerful, etc. {a rosy future} [ME]
rosy finch Æ any of a genus (Leucosticte) of finches of W North America and E Asia, with grayish to black plumage tinted bright pink on the wings, rump, tail, etc.
rot (rät) rot´ted, rot´ting •vi. 1 to decompose gradually by the action of bacteria, fungi, etc.; decay; spoil 2 to fall or pass (off, away, etc.) by decaying 3 to become unhealthy, sickly, etc. {to rot in prison} 4 to become morally corrupt; degenerate •vt. 1 to cause to rot, or decompose 2 RET •n. [ME < ON, akin to OE rotian] 1 a rotting or being rotten; decay, decomposition, or putrefaction 2 a rotting or rotten thing or part 3 any of various diseases; esp., a necrotic inflammatory disease of specific organs or tissues of domestic animals, as foot rot 4 any of various plant diseases caused by fungi or bacteria and characterized by decay 5 [Slang] nonsense; rubbish; twaddle; bosh •interj. an exclamation expressing disgust, contempt, annoyance, etc. SYN. DECAY [ME roten < OE rotian, akin to Du rotten: for IE base see ROTTEN]
rota (rout´э) •n. 1 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a roster, esp. one listing the rotation of duties 2 [R-] R.C.Ch. an ecclesiastical court of appeal in Rome, as for matrimonial cases [L, wheel: see ROLL]
rotameter (rou tæm´эt эr, rout´э mi:t'эr) •n. an instrument for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid by means of a movable float inserted in a vertical tube [prec. + -METER]
Rotarian (rou ter´i: эn) •n. a member of a Rotary Club •adj. of Rotarians or Rotary Clubs Ro·tar´i·an·ism' •n.
rotary (rout´эr i:) •adj. 1 turning around a central point or axis, as a wheel; rotating 2 a) having a rotating part or parts b) having blades that rotate on a hub rather than a reel {a rotary lawn mower} 3 occurring around an axis {rotary motion} •n. pl. -ta·ries 1 a rotary machine or engine 2 [R-] ROTARY CLUB Æ 3 TRAFFIC CIRCLE [ML rotarius < L rota, wheel: see ROLL]
Rotary Club any local organization of an international service club (Rotary International) of business and professional people, founded in Chicago in 1905
rotary engine 1 an engine in which rotary motion is produced directly, without reciprocating parts, as a steam turbine or Wankel engine 2 an early type of radial engine with the cylinders rotating around a stationary crankshaft
rotary press a printing press with curved plates mounted on cylinders that rotate against and print on paper fed from a roll in a continuous sheet
rotary-wing aircraft (-wiŋ´) an aircraft, as the helicopter, which is partly or wholly sustained in the air by lifting surfaces (rotors) revolving around a vertical axis
rotate (rou´teit, rou teit´) -tat·ed, -tat·ing •vi., vt. 1 to turn around or cause to turn around a center point or axis; revolve 2 to go or cause to go in a regular and recurring succession of changes; take, or cause to take, turns {to rotate crops} •adj. shaped like a wheel, with radiating parts, as the corolla of some flowers [< L rota, wheel + -ATE¹] ro´tat·a·ble •adj. [< L rotatus, pp. of rotare, to turn < rota, wheel: see ROLL]
rotation (rou tei´shэn) •n. 1 a rotating or being rotated 2 the spinning motion around the axis of a celestial body: cf. REVOLUTION (sense 1a) 3 regular and recurring succession of changes {a rotation of duties} Æ 4 a form of the game of pool in which the balls must be pocketed in the order of their numbers ro·ta´tion·al •adj. [L rotatio]
rotation of crops a system of rotating in a fixed order the kinds of crops, as grain or grass, grown in the same field, to maintain soil fertility
rotative (rou´teit'iv, rou teit´iv; rout´э tiv) •adj. 1 rotating or occurring in rotation 2 of, causing, or caused by rotation ro´ta·tive·ly •adv.
rotator (rou´teit'эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that rotates 2 pl. ro·ta·tor·es (rou'tэ tör´i:z') Anat. a muscle that serves to rotate a part of the body
rotator cuff a group of muscles, under the deltoid muscle, covering the shoulder joint and connecting the humerus to the scapula: it controls shoulder rotation
rotatory (rou´tэ tör'i:) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, rotation 2 that rotates; rotary 3 going or following in rotation 4 causing rotation
ROTC Reserve Officers' Training Corps
rotche or rotch (räch) •n. DOVEKIE [for earlier rotge < Du rotje, brant goose, prob. via Fl rotgoes < Norw ròtgås < ON hrotgás < *hrot-, echoic of its cry + gás, akin to OE gos, GOOSE]
rote¹ (rout) •n. a fixed, mechanical way of doing something; routine by rote by memory alone, without understanding or thought {to answer by rote} [ME < ?]
rote² (rout) •n. the sound of the surf beating on the shore [prob. via ME dial. < Scand, as in ON rauta, to roar, akin to OHG rōz, a weeping, wailing: for IE base see RAUCOUS]
rote³ (rout) •n. a medieval stringed instrument, variously supposed to have been a kind of lyre, lute, or harp [ME < OFr < Frank *hrōta (akin to OHG hrotta) < Celt chrotta > Welsh crwth, CROWD²]
rotenone (rout´ªn oun') •n. a white, odorless, crystalline substance, C23H22O6, obtained from the roots of certain plants, as derris and cube, and used in insecticides [Jpn roten, derris + -ONE]
rotgut (rät´gût') •n. Æ [Slang] raw, low-grade whiskey or other liquor [ROT + GUT]
Rotherham (räθ´эr эm) city in W South Yorkshire, NC England: pop. 253,000
Rothko (räθ´kou'), Mark (born Marcus Rothkovich) 1903-70; U.S. painter, born in Russia
Rothschild (röθs´chaild', röθ´-; Ger řout´shilt') 1 name of a family of European bankers 2 Mey·er An·selm (mai´эř än´zelm) 1743-1812; Ger. founder of the banking house of Rothschild: also Meyer Am·schel (äm´shэl) 3 Nathan Meyer 1777-1836; Eng. banker, born in Germany: son of Meyer Anselm
rotifer (rout´э fэr) •n. any of a phylum (Rotifera) of microscopic invertebrate animals found mostly in fresh waters, having one or more rings of cilia at the front end of the body that, when vibrated, resemble rotating wheels ro·tif´er·al or ro·tif´er·ous •adj. ro·tif´er·an •adj., n. [ModL < L rota, wheel + -FER]
rotiform (-förm') •adj. shaped like a wheel [ModL rotiformis < L rota, wheel + -formis, -FORM]
rotisserie (rou tis´эr i:) •n. 1 a shop where meats are roasted and sold 2 a grill with an electrically turned spit [Fr < MFr rostisserie < rostisseur, one who roasts meats for sale < rostir, to ROAST]
rotl (rät´ªl) pl. ar·tal (är´täl') •n.or rot´ls a unit of weight used in Muslim regions, varying locally from about one to about five pounds [Ar ratl]
roto (rout´ou) pl. -tos •n. short for ROTOGRAVURE
rotogravure (rout'э grэ vyur´, rout´э greiv'yэr) •n. 1 a printing process using photogravure cylinders on a rotary press 2 a print or newspaper pictorial section printed by this process [< L rota, wheel + GRAVURE]
rotor (rout´эr) •n. 1 any of various rotating mechanical parts; specif., a) the rotating part of a motor, dynamo, etc. (cf. STATOR) b) in the distributor of a gasoline engine, the part that momentarily connects each spark plug wire to the high voltage from the coil c) in disc brakes, the part to which the wheel is usually mounted 2 a system of airfoils, together with their hub, that rotates around a vertical axis, as on a helicopter [contr. of ROTATOR]
rotorcraft (-kræft', -kräft') •n. ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT Also rotor plane
rototiller (rout´э til'эr) •n. a motorized cultivator with rotary blades, etc. ro´to·till' •vt.
rotte (rät´э) •n. ROTE³
rotten (rät´ªn) •adj. 1 in a decayed or decomposed state; spoiled, putrefied, tainted, etc. 2 having a bad odor because of decomposition or decay; putrid; foul-smelling 3 morally corrupt or offensive; dishonest, open to bribery, etc. 4 unsound or weak, as if decayed within 5 soft or easily broken as because of decomposition; friable: said of rocks, ice, etc. 6 [Slang] very bad, unsatisfactory, nasty, etc. rot´ten·ly •adv. rot´ten·ness •n. [ME roten < ON rotinn < IE *reud- < base *reu-, to tear, rip open (> RUDE): prob. used orig. of flax left to soak and rot]
rotten borough 1 in England (before the Reform Act of 1832), a borough with only a few voters but with the right to send a representative to Parliament 2 any electoral district or political unit with greater representation than its population warrants
rottenstone (rät´ªn stoun') •n. a siliceous limestone decomposed to a friable state, used for polishing metals
rotter (rät´эr) •n. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] a despicable fellow; cad, bounder, etc. [< ROT]
Rotterdam (rät´эr dæm'; Du řô'tэř däm´) seaport in SW Netherlands, in the Rhine delta: pop. 571,000
Rottweiler (rät´wai'lэr, röt´vai'lэr) •n. any of a breed of large, strong dog with a short tail and short, black hair with tan markings [after Rottweil, town in S Germany where orig. used for herding]
rotund (rou tûnd´) •adj. 1 round or rounded out; plump or stout 2 full-toned; sonorous {a rotund voice} ro·tun´di·ty or ro·tund´ness •n. ro·tund´ly •adv. [L rotundus, akin to rota, wheel: see ROLL]
rotunda (rou tûn´dэ) •n. a round building, hall, or room, esp. one with a dome [It rotonda < L rotunda, fem. of rotundus: see ROTUND]
Rouault (řu: ou´), Georges (zhôřzh) 1871-1958; Fr. painter
Roubaix (ru: bei´; Fr řu: be´) city in N France: pop. 101,000
rouble (ru:´bэl) •n. alt. sp. of RUBLE
roué (ru: ei´, ru:´ei') •n. a dissipated man; debauchee; rake [Fr, pp. of rouer, to break on the wheel < L rota, wheel (see ROLL): said orig. to be used (c. 1720) of the dissolute companions of the Duc d'Orléans]
Rouen (ru: äñ´; also, -än´; Fr řwäñ) city & port in NW France, on the Seine: pop. 105,000
rouge et noir (ru:zh' ei nwär´) a gambling game in which the betting is on two groups of cards, designated red and black, that are dealt face up [Fr, red and black]
rouge¹ (ru:zh) •n. 1 BLUSHER (sense 2) 2 a reddish powder, mainly ferric oxide, for polishing jewelry, metal, etc. •vt. rouged, roug´ing to color with rouge •vi. to use cosmetic rouge [Fr, red, rouge < L rubeus: see RUBY]
rouge² (ru:zh) •n. in Canadian football, the scoring of a point by the team that is punting when the receiving team takes the ball behind the goal line and does not run it back into the field of play •vi., vt. rouged, roug´ing to carry out or cause to carry out a rouge [orig. slang term at Eton, a scrimmage < ?]
Rouget de Lisle (or L'Isle) (řu zhed li:l´), Claude Jo·seph (kloud zhou zef´) 1760-1836; Fr. army officer & composer: wrote the Marseillaise
rough (rûf) •adj. 1 a) not smooth or level; having bumps, projections, etc.; uneven {a rough surface} b) not easily traveled over or through because rocky, overgrown, wild, etc. {rough country} 2 shaggy or bristly {an animal with a rough coat} 3 characterized by violent action, motion, agitation, disturbance, or irregularity; specif., a) stormy; tempestuous {rough weather} b) boisterous or disorderly {rough play} 4 harsh, rude, brutal, etc.; not gentle or mild {a rough temper} 5 sounding harsh; discordant; jarring 6 tasting harsh or astringent {rough wine} 7 coarse, as texture, cloth, food, etc. 8 coarse in manner, tastes, etc.; lacking refinement or culture {rough men, rough language} 9 lacking refinements, comforts, and conveniences {the rough life of a pioneer} 10 not refined, polished, or prepared; natural, crude, etc. {a rough diamond} 11 not finished, elaborated, perfected, etc. {a rough sketch} 12 not worked out in detail; without claim to be exact or complete; approximate {a rough estimate} 13 requiring muscular energy rather than skill or intelligence {rough labor} 14 [Colloq.] difficult, severe, or disagreeable {a rough time} 15 Phonet. articulated with an aspirate; having the sound (h) •n. 1 rough ground 2 rough material or condition 3 the rough part, aspect, etc. of something Æ 4 a rough sketch or draft 5 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a rough person; rowdy; tough 6 Golf any part of the course where grass, weeds, etc. are allowed to grow, uncut, forming a hazard or obstacle •adv. 1 in a rough manner; roughly 2 [Brit.] without shelter; outdoors {to sleep rough} •vt. 1 to make rough; roughen: often with up 2 a) to handle or treat roughly or brutally (usually with up) b) Football, etc. to subject (an opponent) to intentional and unnecessary roughness 3 to make, fashion, sketch, shape, or cut roughly: usually with in or out {to rough out a scheme} 4 to apply some preparatory or preliminary process or treatment to •vi. 1 [Rare] to become rough 2 to behave roughly {a penalty for roughing} in the rough in a rough or crude state rough it to live without customary comforts and conveniences, as in camping rough´ish •adj. rough´ly •adv. rough´ness •n. [ME ruh, rugh < OE ruh, akin to Ger rauh < IE *reuk < base *reu-, to tear, tear out (> RUG, ROTTEN): prob. basic sense hairy, woolly]
rough bluegrass a cultivated bluegrass (Poa trivialis) often grown in shady or moist spots as a lawn grass
rough breathing 1 in written Greek, the mark () placed over an initial vowel or ρ (rho) to show that in ancient Greek it was pronounced with a preceding (h) sound, or aspirate 2 the sound thus indicated [transl. of L spiritus asper]
rough fish any fish that is not a game fish and that has no commercial value
rough trade [Slang] 1 a tough, brutal, or sadistic, homosexual male picked up or hired for sexual activity 2 homosexuals of this type collectively
roughage (rûf´ij) •n. rough material; coarse substance; specif., coarse food or fodder, as bran, straw, vegetable peel, etc., containing a relatively high proportion of cellulose and other indigestible constituents and serving in the diet as a stimulus to peristalsis
rough-and-ready (rûf´ªn red´i:) •adj. 1 rough, or crude, rude, unpolished, etc., but effective enough {rough-and-ready methods} 2 characterized by rough vigor and prompt action rather than refinement, formality, or nicety {a rough-and-ready fellow}
rough-and-tumble (-tûm´bэl) •adj. violent and disorderly, with no concern for rules {a rough-and-tumble fight} •n. a fight or struggle of this kind
roughcast (rûf´kæst', -käst') •n. 1 a coarse stucco for covering outside surfaces, as walls 2 a rough pattern or form, or crudely made model •vt. -cast', -cast'ing 1 to cover (walls, etc.) with roughcast 2 to make or shape in a rough form
rough-dry (-drai´) -dried´, -dry´ing •vt. to dry (washed laundry) without ironing Also rough´dry´ •adj. washed and dried but not ironed
roughen (rûf´эn) •vt., vi. to make or become rough
rough-hew (rûf´hyu:´) -hewed´, -hewed´ or -hewn´, -hew´ing •vt. 1 to hew (timber, stone, etc.) roughly, or without finishing or smoothing 2 to form roughly; give crude shape to Also rough´hew´
roughhouse (rûf´haus') •n. [Slang] rough, boisterous, or rowdy play, fighting, etc., esp. indoors •vt. -housed', -hous'ing [Slang] to treat (a person) roughly or boisterously, but usually in fun •vi. [Slang] to take part in roughhouse
rough-legged hawk (-leg'id) either of two large hawks (Buteo lagopus and B. regalis) having legs covered with feathers to the base of the toes
roughneck (-nek') •n. 1 [Colloq.] a rough, crude person, esp. one who is quarrelsome and disorderly; rowdy 2 a worker on an oil drilling rig, esp. a member of the crew which feeds pipe into the well •vi. to work as a roughneck rough·neck´ing •n.
roughrider (-raid'эr) •n. 1 a person who breaks horses so that they can be ridden 2 a person who does much hard, rough riding Æ 3 [R-] a member of a volunteer cavalry regiment organized by Theodore Roosevelt and Leonard Wood for service in the Spanish American War (1898): also Rough Rider
roughshod (-shäd') •adj. shod with horseshoes that have calks, or metal points, to prevent slipping ride roughshod over to treat in a harsh, arrogant, inconsiderate manner; domineer over
roulade (ru: läd´) •n. 1 a musical ornament consisting of a rapid succession of tones sung to one syllable 2 a slice of meat rolled, usually with a filling of minced meat, and cooked [Fr < rouler, to ROLL]
rouleau (ru: lou´) pl. -leaux´ (-louz´) or -leaus´ •n. 1 a small roll of something; esp., a roll of coins, generally of the same denomination, stacked in a paper wrapper 2 a roll or fold, as of ribbon for trimming hats, etc. [Fr, dim. of rôle, a ROLL]
roulette (ru: let´) •n. 1 a gambling game played by rolling a small ball around a shallow bowl with an inner disk (roulette wheel) revolving in the opposite direction: the ball finally comes to rest in one of the red or black, numbered compartments into which this disk is divided, thus determining the winning bets 2 a small toothed wheel attached to a handle, for making rows of marks or dots, as in engraving, or incisions, as between postage stamps 3 a series of small, consecutive incisions made in the paper between the stamps in a sheet of stamps, to facilitate their separation •vt. -let´ted, -let´ting to make marks, dots, or incisions in or on with a roulette [Fr < OFr roelette, dim. of roele, small wheel < LL rotella, dim. < L rota, wheel: see ROLL]
Roumania (ru: mei´ni: э, -mein´yэ) var. of ROMANIA Rou·ma´ni·an •adj., n.
Roumelia (ru: mi:´li: э, -mi:l´yэ) alt. sp. of RUMELIA
round angle an angle of 360°
round clam QUAHOG
round dance 1 a dance with the dancers arranged or moving in a circle 2 any of several dances, as the waltz, polka, fox trot, etc., performed by couples and characterized by revolving or circular movements
round hand careful handwriting in which the letters are rounded, distinct, full, and almost vertical
round lot the unit, or a multiple thereof, in which securities, commodities, etc. are typically traded; specif., 100 shares of stock in a transaction Cf. ODD LOT
round of beef ROUND¹ (n. 3)
round robin 1 a document, as a petition, protest, etc., with the signatures written in a circle to conceal the order of signing 2 a contest or tournament, as in tennis, chess, etc., in which every entrant is matched with every other one 3 a letter circulated among the members of a group, which is signed and forwarded by each in turn, often with additional comments, etc. [ROUND¹ + pers. name Robin]
round steak a steak cut from a round of beef
Round Table Arthurian Legend 1 the large table around which King Arthur and his knights sit: it is circular to avoid disputes about precedence 2 King Arthur and his knights, collectively [r- t-] 1 a group gathered together for an informal discussion or conference at, or as if at, a circular table 2 such a discussion, conference, etc. round´-ta'ble •adj.
round trip 1 a trip to a place and back again 2 ROUNDHOUSE (sense 4) round´-trip´ •adj.
round turn one complete turn, as of a rope, around something: see KNOT¹, illus.
round¹ (raund) •adj. 1 shaped like a ball; spherical; globular 2 a) shaped like a circle, ring, or disk; circular b) shaped like a cylinder (in having a circular cross section); cylindrical 3 curved in shape like part of a sphere or circle 4 not angular; plump or stout 5 involving, or done in or with, a circular motion {a round dance} 6 a) not lacking part; full; complete {a round dozen} b) completed; perfected 7 completed by progressing through a course which, as if circular, returns to the starting point {a round trip} 8 constituting, or expressed by, a whole number, or integer; not fractional 9 expressed in units divisible by ten, one hundred, etc., rather than exactly {500 is a round number for 498, 503, etc.} 10 large in amount, size, etc.; considerable {a round sum} 11 mellow and full in tone; sonorous {rich round tones} 12 brisk; vigorous and rapid {a round pace} 13 outspoken; plain and blunt; straightforward 14 Phonet. articulated with the lips forming a circular or oval opening; rounded {a round vowel} •n. 1 something round or rounded; thing or part that is spherical, globular, circular, curved, annular, or cylindrical 2 a) a rung of a ladder b) a crossbar connecting the legs of a chair 3 the rounded part of the thigh of a beef animal, between the rump and the leg: see BEEF, illus. 4 movement in a circular course or about an axis 5 ROUND DANCE 6 a series or succession of actions, events, etc. that is completed at, or as if at, the point where it began {a round of parties} 7 the complete extent; whole range {the round of human beliefs} 8 [often pl.] a regular, customary course or circuit, as by a watchman of a station, a doctor of hospital patients, a drinker of a number of bars, etc. 9 a single serving, as of drinks, to each of a group 10 a) a single shot from each of a number of rifles, artillery pieces, etc. fired together, or a shot from a single gun (cf. SALVO¹) b) ammunition for a single shot; cartridge, shell, etc. 11 a single outburst, as of applause, cheering, etc.; salvo 12 a circular slice, as of bread 13 Archery a specified number of arrows shot at the target from a specified distance according to the rules 14 Games, Sports a single period or division of action, usually one of a series [a round of poker]; specif., a) Boxing any of the timed periods of a fight; a round is now generally limited to three minutes, and the interval between rounds to one minute b) Golf a number of holes as a unit of competition, esp. eighteen 15 Music a) a short song for two or more voices, in which the second starts when the first reaches the second phrase, etc. and upon concluding each voice begins again, as in a canon b) [pl.] the ringing in sequence of a set of bells from the smallest to the largest, in change ringing •vt. 1 to make round: often with off 2 Phonet. to articulate with the lips forming a circular or oval opening 3 to deprive of angularity or make plump: usually with out 4 to express as a round number: usually with off 5 to complete; finish; perfect: usually with out or off 6 to make a circuit of; pass around {we rounded the island} 7 to make a turn about {to round a corner} 8 [Now Rare] to encircle; surround 9 to cause to move in a circular course •vi. 1 to make a complete or partial circuit; move in a curved or circular course 2 a) to turn; reverse direction b) to attack or oppose suddenly or unexpectedly; turn (on) 3 to become round or plump: often with out 4 to develop (into) {the talk rounded into a plan} •adv. 1 in a circle; along or throughout a circular course or circumference 2 through a recurring period of time, or from beginning to end {to work the year round} 3 in or through a course or circuit, as from one person or place to another 4 for each of several; to include all in a group {not enough to go round} 5 so as to encircle, surround, or envelop, or be encircled, surrounded, or enveloped 6 in circumference 7 on all sides; in every direction 8 about; near 9 by a circuitous course; in a roundabout way 10 in various places; here and there 11 with a rotating or revolving movement 12 in or to the opposite direction 13 in or to an opposite belief, viewpoint, etc. •prep. 1 so as to encircle, surround, or envelop; about 2 on the circumference, border, or outer part of 3 on all sides of; in every direction from 4 in the vicinity of; somewhat close to 5 to or through every part or various parts of; in a circuit or course through 6 from the beginning to the end of (a period of time); throughout 7 in various places in or on; here and there in; all about 8 a) so as to make a curve or partial circuit about b) at a point reached by making such a circuit about 9 so as to rotate or revolve about (a center or axis) In the U.S., round (adv. & prep.) is generally superseded by around; in Great Britain, round is preferred for most senses Cf. AROUND for special senses See also phrases under BRING, COME, etc. go the round (or rounds) 1 to be circulated among a number of people, as a story, rumor, etc. 2 to walk one's regular course or circuit, as a watchman: also make one's rounds in the round 1 with the audience or congregation seated all around a central area for a stage, altar, etc.: cf. ARENA THEATER 2 in full and completely rounded form, not in relief: said of sculpture 3 in full and realistic detail out of round not having perfect roundness round about 1 in or to the opposite direction 2 in every direction around round in Naut. to haul in on (a line) round to Naut. to turn the bow of a vessel into the wind round up Æ 1 to drive (cattle, horses, etc.) together; collect in a herd, group, etc. Æ 2 [Colloq.] to gather, collect, or assemble round´ness •n. SYN.—round, the most inclusive of these words, applies to anything shaped like a circle, sphere, or cylinder, or like a part of any of these; spherical applies to a round body or mass having the surface equally distant from the center at all points; globular is used of things that are ball-shaped but not necessarily perfect spheres; circular is applied to round lines, or round flat surfaces, in the shape of a ring or disk, and it may or may not imply correspondence in form with a perfect circle; annular applies to ringlike forms or structures, as the markings in a cross section of a tree [ME < OFr roont < L rotundus: see ROTUND]
round² (raund) •vt., vi. [Obs.] to whisper (to) [ME rounen (+ unhistoric -d) < OE runian, to whisper: see RUNE]
roundabout (raund´э baut') •adj. 1 not straight or straightforward; indirect; circuitous {roundabout answers} 2 encircling; enclosing; surrounding •n. 1 something that is indirect or circuitous Æ 2 a short, tight jacket or coat formerly worn by men and boys 3 [Brit.] a) TRAFFIC CIRCLE b) var. of MERRY-GO-ROUND
rounded (raun´did) •adj. 1 made round 2 developed or diversified, in regard to tastes, abilities, etc.: often in hyphenated compounds {a well-rounded person} 3 Phonet. articulated with the lips forming a circular or oval opening; labialized round´ed·ness •n.
roundel (raun´dэl) •n. 1 orig., something round, or circular 2 a round ornamental panel, plate, niche, etc. 3 a small, round window or pane 4 a) [Archaic] a rondeau b) an English variation of the rondeau, with eleven lines (three stanzas), the fourth and eleventh being the refrain 5 ROUNDELAY (sense 2) [ME < OFr rondel, orig. dim. of roont, ROUND¹]
roundelay (raun´dэ lei') •n. 1 a) a simple song in which some phrase, line, etc. is continually repeated b) music for such a song 2 a dance in a circle; roundel [MFr rondelet, dim. of rondel: see ROUNDEL]
rounder (raun´dэr) •n. 1 [Obs.] a person who makes a round or rounds, as a watchman 2 a person or thing that rounds; specif., a tool for rounding corners or edges 3 [pl., with sing. v.] a British game somewhat like baseball Æ 4 [Colloq.] a dissolute person or drunkard [from the idea of making the rounds of bars, etc.]
Roundhead (raund´hed') •n. a member or supporter of the Parliamentary, or Puritan, party in England during the English civil war (1642-52) Orig. a derisive term, with reference to the Puritans' close-cropped hair in contrast to the Cavaliers' long hair
roundheel (raund´hi:l') •n. [Slang] a woman who yields readily to sexual intercourse: also round´heels' round´heeled' •adj. [orig. used of an easily beaten prizefighter]
roundhouse (raund´haus') •n. Æ 1 a circular building, with a turntable in the center, used for storing and repairing locomotives 2 a cabin on the after part of the quarterdeck on old sailing ships Æ 3 Baseball a) a pitch with a wide curve b) Boxing a wide swing or hook, as to the head Æ 4 Pinochle a meld consisting of a king and queen of each of the four suits [orig., a lockup, after Du rondhuis, guardhouse]
roundish (raun´dish) •adj. somewhat round
roundlet (raund´lit) •n. a small circle or circular thing [ME roundelet < MFr rondelet: see ROUNDELAY]
roundly (raund´li:) •adv. 1 in a round form; circularly, spherically, etc. 2 in a round manner; specif., a) vigorously, bluntly, severely, etc. {he was roundly rebuked} b) fully; completely and thoroughly
round-shouldered (raund´shoul'dэrd) •adj. stooped because the shoulders are bent forward, not held straight
roundsman (raundz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person who makes rounds, esp. of inspection
round-the-clock (raund´ðэ kläk´) •adj., adv. throughout the day and night; without interruption
round-tripper (raund'trip´эr) •n. Æ [Slang] Baseball a home run
roundup (raund´ûp') •n. Æ 1 a) the act of driving cattle, etc. together on the range and collecting them in a herd, as for branding, inspection, or shipping b) the herd of cattle, etc. thus collected c) the cowboys, horses, etc. that do this work Æ 2 any similar driving together, collecting, or gathering {a roundup of suspected persons} Æ 3 a summary, as of information, news, etc.
roundworm (raund´wørm') •n. NEMATODE
roup (ru:p) •n. an infectious disease of poultry, characterized by mucous discharge from the eyes and nasal passages roup´y, roup´i·er, roup´i·est, •adj. [prob. akin to or < MFr roupie, snivel < ?]
Rous (raus), Francis Pey·ton (peit´ªn) 1879-1970; U.S. pathologist
rouse¹ (rauz) roused, rous´ing •vt. 1 to cause (game) to rise from cover, come out of a lair, etc.; stir up to flight or attack 2 to stir up, as to anger or action; excite 3 to cause to come out of a state of sleep, repose, unconsciousness, etc.; wake 4 Naut. to pull with force, esp. by hand; haul •vi. 1 to rise from cover, etc.: said of game 2 to come out of a state of sleep, repose, etc.; wake 3 to become active •n. 1 the act of rousing 2 a violent stir SYN. STIR¹ rous´er •n. [LME rowsen: orig. technical term in hawking & hunting, hence prob. < Anglo-Fr or OFr]
rouse² (rauz) •n. [Archaic] 1 a drink of liquor 2 a carousal [aphetic for CAROUSE (from mistaking drink carouse as drink a rouse)]
rousing (rau´ziŋ) •adj. 1 that rouses; stirring {a rousing speech} 2 very active or lively; vigorous; brisk {a rousing business} 3 extraordinary; remarkable rous´ing·ly •adv.
Rousseau (řu: sou´) 1 Hen·ri (äñ ři:´) 1844-1910; Fr. primitive painter: called Le Douanier (The Customs Officer) 2 Jean Jacques (zhäñ zhäk´) 1712-78; Fr. political philosopher & writer, born in Switzerland 3 (Pierre Étienne) Thé·o·dore (tei ô dôř´) 1812-67; Fr. landscape painter
Roussillon (řu: si: youñ´) historical region of S France bordering on the Pyrenees & the Gulf of Lions
roust (raust) •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to rouse or stir (up) 2 to rout or drive (out) [dial. form of ROUSE¹ with unhistoric -t]
roustabout (-э baut') •n. Æ 1 a deckhand or waterfront laborer Æ 2 a laborer in a circus who helps set up the tents, etc. Æ 3 an unskilled or transient laborer, as on a ranch or in an oil field [prec. + ABOUT]
rout¹ (raut) •n. 1 a disorderly crowd; noisy mob; rabble 2 a disorderly flight or retreat, as of defeated troops {to be put to rout} 3 an overwhelming defeat 4 [Archaic] a) a group of people; company; band b) a band of followers; retinue 5 [Archaic] a large, fashionable social gathering in the evening •vt. 1 to put to disorderly flight 2 to defeat overwhelmingly SYN. CONQUER [ME route < OFr, troop, band, lit., part broken off < L rupta: see ROUTE]
rout² (raut) •vi. 1 to dig for food with the snout, as a pig; root 2 to poke or rummage about •vt. 1 to dig up or turn over with the snout 2 to force out rout out 1 to expose to view 2 to scoop, gouge, or hollow out (metal, wood, etc.) 3 to make (a person) get out rout up 1 to find or get by turning up or poking about Æ 2 to make (a person) get up [var. of ROOT²]
route (ru:t; or, and for n. 2 & 3 usually, raut) •n. 1 a road, way, or course for traveling; esp., a highway Æ 2 a) a regular course traveled as in delivering mail, milk, newspapers, etc. b) a set of customers whom one regularly visits to make deliveries, solicit sales, etc. 3 [Archaic] an order for troops to march •vt. rout´ed, rout´ing Æ 1 to direct, send, forward, or transport by a specified route {to route goods through Omaha} Æ 2 to fix the order of procedure of (a series of operations, etc.) {to route orders through the sales department} Æ go the route [Colloq.] Baseball to pitch an entire game [ME < OFr route, rote < L rupta (via), (path) broken through < fem. of ruptus, pp. of rumpere, to break: see RUPTURE]
router (raut´эr) •n. a person or thing that routs out or a tool for routing out; specif., a) a plane for gouging out recesses and smoothing the bottoms of grooves (in full router plane) b) a machine for routing out areas on a wood or metal surface
routine (ru: ti:n´) •n. 1 a regular, more or less unvarying procedure, customary, prescribed, or habitual, as of business or daily life 2 such procedure in general {to dislike routine} 3 a theatrical skit or act Æ 4 a series of steps for a dance 5 a set of computer instructions for performing a specific operation •adj. having the nature of, using, or by routine rou·tine´ly •adv. [Fr < route: see ROUTE]
routinier (řu: ti: nyei´) •n. a person who adheres to a routine; esp., a competent but uninspired orchestra conductor [Fr]
routinism (ru: ti:n´iz'эm) •n. adherence to or prevalence of routine rou·tin´ist •n.
routinize (ru: ti:´naiz) -ized, -iz·ing •vt. to make routine; reduce to a routine rou'tin·i·za´tion •n.
roux (ru:) •n. a cooked mixture of melted butter (or other fat) and flour, used for thickening sauces, soups, gravies, etc. [Fr roux (beurre), reddish-brown (butter) < L russus: see RUSSET]
rove beetle any of a large family (Staphylinidae) of swiftly moving beetles with a long, slender body and very short elytra: they feed chiefly on decomposing organic matter
rove¹ (rouv) roved, rov´ing •vi. 1 to wander about; go from place to place, esp. over an extensive area, with no particular course or destination; roam 2 to look around: said of the eyes •vt. to wander over; roam through {to rove the woods} •n. the act of roving; a ramble [ME roven, orig. an archery term as vt. < ?]
rove² (rouv) roved, rov´ing •vt. to twist (fibers) together and draw out into roving before spinning •n. Brit. var. of ROVING [< ?]
rove³ (rouv) •vt. alt. pt. & pp. of REEVE²
roven (rou´vэn) •vt. alt. pp. of REEVE²
rover¹ (rou´vэr) •n. 1 a person who roves, or wanders 2 Archery a) a mark, or target, chosen at random b) any of several set marks for distance shooting c) an archer who shoots for distance [ROVE¹ + -ER]
rover² (rou´vэr) •n. [Archaic] a pirate or pirate ship [ME < MDu, robber < roven, to rob (for IE base see RUPTURE): prob. merged with prec.]
rover³ (rou´vэr) •n. 1 a person who operates a machine for roving fibers 2 such a machine
roving (-viŋ) •n. 1 the strand of twisted and drawn-out fibers of cotton, wool, silk, etc. from which yarns are made 2 the process of preparing such a strand [< ROVE²]
Rovno (räv´nou', -nэ; röv´-) city in W Ukraine: pop. 221,000
row house (rou) any of a line of identical houses joined along the sides by common walls
row¹ (rou) •n. 1 a number of people or things arranged so as to form a line, esp. a straight line 2 any of a series of such horizontal lines in parallel, as of seats in a theater or airplane, corn in a field, etc. 3 a street with a line of buildings on either side, specif. one with occupants or establishments of a specified kind {fraternity row} •vt. to arrange or put in a row or rows Æ hard (or long) row to hoe anything difficult or wearisome to do in a row in succession; consecutively [ME rowe < OE ræw, akin to Ger reihe < IE base *rei-, to tear, split > RIVE, REAP]
row² (rou) •vt. 1 to propel (a boat, etc.) on water by or as by using oars 2 to convey in or on a boat, etc. propelled in this way 3 to employ (a specified number of oars): said of a boat 4 to use (oarsmen, a stroke, etc. as specified) in rowing, esp. in a race 5 to engage in (a race) by rowing 6 to row against in a race •vi. 1 to use oars in propelling a boat 2 to be propelled by means of oars: said of a boat •n. 1 an act or period of rowing 2 a trip made by rowboat row´er •n. [ME rowen < OE rowan, akin to ON roa < IE base *erē-, to row, oar > RUDDER, L remus, oar, Gr eretēs, rower]
row³ (rau) •n. a noisy quarrel, dispute, or disturbance; squabble, brawl, or commotion •vi. to make, or take part in, a noisy quarrel or disturbance [back-form. < ? ROUSE¹, with loss of s, as in PEA or CHERRY]
rowan (rou´эn, rau´-) •n. 1 the European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), a tree with pinnately compound leaves, white flowers, and red berries 2 either of two similar American mountain ashes 3 the orange or red berry of a rowan: also row´an·ber'ry (-ber´i:), pl. -ries [< Scand, as in Norw rogn, raun, ON reynir, akin to ON rauthr, RED: from the color of the fruit]
rowboat (rou´bout') •n. a small boat made to be rowed
rowdy (rau´di:) pl. -dies •n. a person whose behavior is rough, quarrelsome, and disorderly; hoodlum •adj. -di·er, -di·est having the nature of or characteristic of a rowdy; rough, quarrelsome, etc. row´di·ly •adv. row´di·ness •n. row´dy·ish •adj. row´dy·ism' •n. [< ? ROW³]
rowel (rau´эl) •n. a small, revolving wheel with sharp projecting points, forming the end of a spur •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling to spur or prick (a horse, etc.) with or as with a rowel [ME rowelle < OFr roele: see ROULETTE]
rowen (rau´эn) •n. the second crop of grass or hay in one season; aftermath [ME rewayn < NormFr *rewain, for OFr regain < regainer: see RE- & GAIN¹]
Rowena (rou i:´nэ, rou wi:´-) a feminine name [< ? OE *Hrothwina < hroth, fame, akin to OHG hruod- (see ROBERT) + wina, a friend, fem. of wine: see EDWIN]
Rowland (rou´lэnd) a masculine name: see ROLAND
Rowlandson (rou´lэnd sэn), Thomas 1756-1827; Eng. caricaturist & painter
rowlock (räl´эk, rûl´-; rou´läk') •n. chiefly Brit., etc. term for OARLOCK [altered (infl. by ROW²) < earlier OARLOCK]
Roxanne (räks æn´) a feminine name: dim. Roxie; var. Roxanna
Roxburgh (räks´bэ rэ) former county of S Scotland, now in the region of the Borders: also Rox´burgh·shire' (-shir', -shэr)
Roy (roi) a masculine name [as if < OFr roy (Fr roi), a king, but prob. < Gael rhu, red]
royal (roi´эl) •adj. 1 of, from, by, or to a king, queen, or other sovereign {the royal family, a royal edict, the royal allowance} 2 having the rank of a sovereign 3 of a kingdom, its government, etc. {the royal fleet} 4 a) founded, chartered, or helped by, or under the patronage of, a sovereign {the Royal Society} b) in the service of a sovereign or of the Crown 5 a) suitable for a sovereign; magnificent, splendid, etc. {royal robes} b) like or characteristic of a sovereign; majestic, stately, etc. {a royal bearing} 6 unusually large, great, fine, etc. •n. 1 a large size of paper, 20 by 25 inches (for printing) or 19 by 24 inches (for writing) 2 a small sail set next above a topgallant sail, on a royal mast 3 [Colloq.] a member of a royal family roy´al·ly •adv. [ME roial < OFr < L regalis, REGAL]
royal blue a deep, vivid reddish or purplish blue
royal fern a tall, often aquatic, bushy fern (Osmunda regalis) of a family (Osmundaceae) of ferns characterized by special fronds that contain sporangia
royal flush Poker the highest straight flush, consisting of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of any one suit
royal jelly a highly nutritious mixture secreted by the maxillary glands in young honeybee workers, fed to all larvae for the first few days and then only fed to those larvae chosen to be queens
royal mast a small mast next above a topgallant mast
Royal Oak city in SE Mich.: suburb of Detroit: pop. 65,000 [in allusion to an oak in which CHARLES II of England is said to have hidden]
royal palm any of several tall, feather palm trees (genus Roystonea) native to Florida and the West Indies, extensively planted because of their rapid growth and adaptability
royal poinciana a tropical tree (Delonix regia) of the caesalpinia family, with a flat crown of twice pinnately compound leaves and masses of intense scarlet flowers
royal purple 1 orig., deep crimson: cf. PURPLE (sense 2) 2 a dark, bluish purple
royal road an easy way of reaching an objective
royalism (roi´эl iz'эm) •n. 1 the principles of royal government; monarchism 2 adherence to monarchism
royalist (-ist) •n. 1 an adherent of royalism; person who supports a monarch or a monarchy, esp. in times of revolution, civil war, etc. 2 [R-] a) a supporter of Charles I of England; Cavalier Æ b) a supporter of the British in the American Revolution; Tory c) a supporter of the Bourbons in France •adj. of royalists or royalism
royalty (roi´эl ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the rank, status, or power of a king or queen; royal position, dignity, etc.; sovereignty 2 a royal person or, collectively, royal persons 3 [Archaic] a royal domain or realm; kingdom 4 royal quality or character; nobility, magnanimity, etc. 5 [usually pl.] [Archaic] a right, privilege, or prerogative of a monarch 6 [Rare] a) a royal right, as over some natural resource, granted by a monarch to a person, corporation, etc. b) payment for such a right 7 a) a share of the proceeds or product paid to the owner of a right, as a patent, for permission to use it or operate under it b) such a share paid to one from whom lands rich in oil or minerals are leased c) a share of proceeds, usually a specified percentage, paid for the work of an author, composer, etc. by the publisher [ME roialte < OFr < ML regalitas < L regalis, REGAL]
Royce (rois), Josiah 1855-1916; U.S. philosopher
rozzer (rä´zэr) •n. [Brit. Slang] a policeman [< ? Romany roozlo, strong]
rpm revolutions per minute
rps revolutions per second
rpt report
RPV remotely piloted vehicle (an unmanned aircraft operated by remote control)
RQ respiratory quotient
RR 1 railroad 2 Right Reverend 3 Rural Route: also R.R.
RR Lyrae variables (är'är' lai´ri:) any of the very regular, short-period, pulsating variable stars having periods between 1.5 and 29 hours [RR, astronomical code designation of tenth variable + Lyrae, gen. of L Lyra, LYRA]
-rrhagia (rei´ji: э, -jэ) combining form abnormal discharge, excessive flow {menorrhagia}: also -rrhage (rij) or -rrhag·y (rei´ji:) [ModL < Gr < rhēgnynai, to burst < IE base *wrēg-, to break > Lith režti, to cut, tear]
-rrhea (ri:´э) combining form flow, discharge {seborrhea}: also -rrhoe´a [ModL < Gr -rrhoia < rheein, to flow: see STREAM]
Rs rupees
RSFSR Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
RSV Revised Standard Version (of the Bible)
rt 1 right 2 Football right tackle
Rt Hon Right Honorable
Rt Rev Right Reverend
rte route
Ru 1 Bible Ruth 2 Chem. symbol for ruthenium
ruana (ru ä´nэ) •n. a kind of poncho worn orig. in Colombia and Peru
Ruanda (ru än´dэ) •n. 1 pl. -das or -da a member of a Bantu people living in Rwanda and Zaire 2 their Bantu language: used as one of the two trade languages in Rwanda and Burundi
Ruanda-Urundi (ru: än´dэ u: run´di:) former Belgian-administered UN trust territory in EC Africa: divided (1962) into the independent countries of RWANDA & BURUNDI
rub (rûb) rubbed, rub´bing •vt. 1 to move one's hand, a cloth, etc. over (a surface or object) with pressure and friction, in a circular or back-and-forth motion 2 to move (one's hand, a cloth, etc.) over, or spread or apply (polish, etc.) on or over, a surface or object in this way 3 to move (a thing) against something else, or move (things) over each other with pressure and friction: often followed by together, etc. 4 to apply pressure and friction to, for cleaning, polishing, smoothing, etc. 5 to put into a specified condition by applying pressure and friction {to rub oneself dry} 6 to make sore or chafed by rubbing 7 to force, cause to go, etc. (in, into, etc.) by rubbing 8 to remove by rubbing (out, off, away, etc.) •vi. 1 to move with pressure and friction (on, against, etc.) {the tire rubbing against the fender} 2 to rub something; exert pressure and friction on something 3 to admit of being rubbed or removed by rubbing: often with off, out, etc. 4 to arouse anger or irritation •n. 1 the act or an instance of rubbing; specif., a massage 2 an obstacle, hindrance, or difficulty 3 a place or spot that has been rubbed until rough or sore 4 something that irritates, annoys, offends, etc., as a jeer or rebuke rub along (or on or through) [Chiefly Brit.] to manage or keep going in spite of difficulties rub down 1 to massage 2 to smooth, polish, wear down, etc. by rubbing rub elbows with to associate or mingle with (famous or prominent people, etc.): also rub shoulders with rub it in [Slang] to keep on mentioning to someone his or her failure or mistake, often with some malice Æ rub off on to be left on (something or someone) as a mark, as by rubbing or, figuratively, by close contact rub out 1 to erase or be erased by rubbing Æ 2 [Slang] to kill or murder rub the wrong way to be annoying, irritating, etc. to [ME rubben, akin to Dan rubbe, EFris rubben < IE *reup-, to tear out < base *reu-, to dig, tear out > ROB, RIP¹, RUG, RUBBLE, L rumpere, to break]
Rub` al Khali (rub' äl kä´li:) large desert of S & SE Arabia: c. 300,000 sq. mi. (777,000 sq. km)
rub-a-dub (rûb´э dûb') •n. a sound of or as of a drum being beaten [echoic]
Rubáiyát (ru:'bai yät´, ru:´bai yät'; -bi:-) a long poem in quatrains (rhyming aaba), written by OMAR KHAYYÁM and well known in a free translation by Edward FitzGerald [Ar, lit., the quatrains < rubā`īyāt, pl. of rubā`īya, quatrain, fem. of rubā`ī, composed of four < arba؟a, four]
rubasse (ru: bæs´, -bäs´) •n. a variety of crystalline quartz containing bits of iron oxide that produce a ruby-red color [< Fr rubace < rubis: see RUBY]
rubato (ru: bät´ou) •adj., adv. Music with some notes arbitrarily lengthened (or shortened) in performance and, often, others correspondingly changed in length; intentionally and temporarily deviating from a strict tempo •n. pl. -tos 1 rubato modification or execution 2 a rubato passage, phrase, etc. [It < (tempo) rubato, stolen (time)]
rubbaboo or rubaboo (rûb´э bu:') •n. pemmican made into a soup by boiling in water, sometimes thickened with flour [CdnFr rababou < ? Algonquian: cf. Cree -aapoy, Ojibwa -aabo, soup, broth, liquid]
rubber band a narrow, continuous band of rubber as for holding small objects together
rubber cement an adhesive made of unvulcanized rubber in a solvent that quickly evaporates when exposed to air
rubber check [Slang] a check that is worthless because of insufficient funds in the drawer's account [from the notion that it bounces: see BOUNCE (vi. 3)]
rubber plant 1 any plant yielding a milky sap (latex) from which crude rubber is formed 2 an Asian tree (Ficus elastica) of the mulberry family, with large, glossy, leathery leaves: often used as an ornamental house plant
rubber stamp 1 a stamp made of rubber, pressed on an inking pad and used for printing signatures, dates, etc. Æ 2 [Colloq.] a) a person, bureau, legislature, etc. that approves or endorses something in a routine manner, without thought b) any routine approval
rubber¹ (rûb´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that rubs, as in polishing, scraping, massaging, etc. 2 an elastic substance produced by coagulating and drying the milky sap (latex) of various tropical plants, esp. a tree (Hevea brasiliensis) of the spurge family: now most often produced synthetically or by chemically altering latex to obtain desired characteristics for use in making automobile tires, electrical insulation, molded objects and parts, etc.: in pure form rubber is a white, unsaturated hydrocarbon, having the formula (C5H8)n [from orig. use as an eraser] 3 something made of this substance; specif., a) an eraser Æ b) a low-cut overshoe c) [Slang] a condom Æ 4 Baseball an oblong piece of whitened rubber, etc. set in the pitcher's mound •adj. made of rubber •vi. Æ [Old Slang] short for RUBBERNECK rub´ber·like' •adj.
rubber² (rûb´эr) •n. 1 a series of games, the majority of which must be won to win the whole series; now, esp., such a series in bridge, consisting of three games 2 any game played to break a tie in games won: usually rubber game [< ?]
rubberize (rûb´эr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to coat or impregnate with rubber or some rubber solution
rubberneck (rûb´эr nek') •n. [Colloq.] a person who stretches his neck or turns his head to gaze about in curiosity, as a sightseer: also rub´ber·neck'er •vi. [Colloq.] to look at things or gaze about in this way
rubber-stamp (rûb'эr stæmp´) •vt. 1 to put the impression of a rubber stamp on Æ 2 [Colloq.] to approve or endorse in a routine manner, without thought Æ adj. routinely approved or approving
rubbery (rûb´эr i:) •adj. like rubber in appearance, elasticity, toughness, etc. rub´ber·i·ness •n.
rubbing (rûb´iŋ) •n. an impression of a design, picture, etc. taken from a raised or incised surface by placing a paper over it and rubbing with graphite, wax, etc.
rubbish (rûb´ish) •n. 1 any material rejected or thrown away as worthless; trash; refuse 2 worthless, foolish ideas, statements, etc.; nonsense rub´bish·y •adj. [ME robous, robys: ult. < base of RUB]
rubble (rûb´эl) •n. 1 rough, irregular, loose fragments of rock, broken from larger bodies either by natural processes or artificially, as by blasting 2 masonry made of rubble; rubblework 3 debris from buildings, etc., resulting from earthquake, bombing, etc. rub·bly (rûb´li:), -bli·er, -bli·est, •adj. [ME robel; akin to prec., RUB]
rubblework (-wørk') •n. masonry made of rubble or roughly dressed, irregular stones
rubdown (rûb´daun') •n. a brisk rubbing of the body, as in massage
rube (ru:b) •n. [Slang] a person from a rural region who lacks polish and sophistication; rustic [< Rube, nickname of REUBEN]
Rube Goldberg (ru:b´ gould´børg') designating any very complicated invention, machine, scheme, etc. laboriously contrived to perform a seemingly simple operation [after Rube (Reuben Lucius) Goldberg (1883-1970), U.S. cartoonist of comically involved contrivances]
rubefacient (ru:'bэ fei´shэnt) •adj. causing redness, as of the skin •n. Med. any external application, as a salve or plaster, causing redness of the skin [L rubefaciens, prp. of rubefacere, to redden < rubeus, red (see RUBY) + facere, to make, DO¹]
rubefaction (ru:'bэ fæk´shэn) •n. 1 the act or process of making red, as with a rubefacient 2 redness of the skin, esp. as caused by a rubefacient
rubella (ru: bel´э) •n. a mild, infectious, communicable virus disease, characterized by swollen glands, esp. of the back of the head and neck, and small red spots on the skin; German measles [ModL, neut. pl. of L rubellus, reddish < ruber, RED]
rubellite (ru: bel´ait', ru:´bэ lait') •n. a red variety of tourmaline, used as a gem [< L rubellus (see RUBELLA) + -ITE¹]
Rubenesque (ru:'bэ nesk´) •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or like the art of Rubens; colorful, sensual, opulent, etc. 2 full and shapely; voluptuous: said of a woman's figure
Rubens (ru:´bэnz), Peter Paul 1577-1640; Fl. painter
rubeola (ru: bi:´э lэ, ru:'bi: ou´lэ) •n. MEASLES (sense 1a) [ModL, neut. pl. dim. of L rubeus, red: see RUBY]
rubescent (ru: bes´эnt) •adj. becoming red; specif., blushing or flushing ru·bes´cence •n. [L rubescens, prp. of rubescere, to grow red < rubere, to redden < ruber, RED]
Rubicon (ru:´bi kän') small river in N Italy that formed the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul & the Roman Republic: when Caesar crossed it (49 B.C.) at the head of his army to march on Rome, he began the civil war with Pompey [L Rubico (gen. Rubiconis)]
rubicund (ru:´bэ kûnd') •adj. reddish; ruddy ru'bi·cun´di·ty (-kûn´dэ ti:) •n. [Fr rubicond < L rubicundus < ruber, RED]
rubidium (ru: bid´i: эm) •n. a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element, resembling potassium: it ignites spontaneously in air, reacts violently in water, and is used in photocells and in filaments of vacuum tubes: symbol, Rb; at. wt., 85.47; at. no., 37; sp. gr., 1.522; melt. pt., 39.0°C; boil. pt., 689°C [ModL: so named (1861) by BUNSEN & KIRCHHOFF < L rubidus, red < ruber, RED (from the red lines in its spectrum) + -IUM]
rubied (ru:´bi:d') •adj. colored like a ruby; deep-red
rubiginous (ru: bij´э nэs) •adj. rust-colored; reddish-brown: also ru·big´i·nose' (-nous') [LL rubiginosus < L rubigo, rust, akin to rubeus, red: see RUBY]
Rubinstein (ru:´bin stain') 1 An·ton (Grigorevich) (än tôn´) 1829-94; Russ. pianist & composer 2 Ar·tur (är´tur') 1887-1982; U.S. pianist, born in Poland
rubious (ru:´bi: эs) •adj. [Old Poet.] ruby-colored; red
ruble (ru:´bэl) •n. the basic monetary unit of various countries, including Russia, Ukraine, & Belarus: see MONEY, table [Russ rubl']
rubric (ru:´brik) •n. 1 in early books and manuscripts, a chapter heading, initial letter, specific sentence, etc. printed or written in red, decorative lettering, etc. 2 any heading, title, etc., as of a chapter or section 3 a direction, as in a prayer book, for conducting religious services 4 an explanatory comment, or gloss 5 the title or a heading of a law 6 an established custom or rule of procedure •adj. 1 inscribed in red 2 [Archaic] red or reddish [ME rubryke < MFr rubriche < L rubrica, red ocher, hence title (esp. of a law) written in red, rubric < ruber, RED]
rubrical (-brэ kэl) •adj. of, prescribed by, or according to rubrics, esp. liturgical rubrics ru´bri·cal·ly •adv.
rubricate (ru:´brэ keit') -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. 1 to mark, color, or illuminate (a book, etc.) with red; write or print in red letters 2 to provide with or regulate by rubrics ru'bri·ca´tion •n. ru´bri·ca'tor (-keit'эr) •n. [< L rubricatus, pp. of rubricare, to redden < rubrica: see RUBRIC]
rubrician (ru: brish´эn) •n. a specialist in rubrics
Ruby (ru:´bi:) a feminine name [see RUBY] ruby (ru:´bi:) pl. -bies •n. 1 a clear, deep-red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone 2 something made of this stone, as a watch bearing 3 a) deep red b) something having this color •adj. deep-red [ME < OFr rubi, ult. < L rubeus, reddish; akin to ruber, RED]
ruby-throated hummingbird (-θrout´id) a common North American hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), the male of which has a metallic green back and a red throat
ruche (ru:sh) •n. a fluting or pleating of lace, ribbon, muslin, net, etc. for trimming dresses, esp. at the wrist and neck [Fr, lit., beehive < OFr rusche < Celt, as in Gaul rusca, bark (used for making beehives)]
ruching (ru:sh´iŋ) •n. 1 ruches collectively; trimming made of ruches 2 material used to make ruches
ruck¹ (rûk) •n. 1 orig., a heap or stack, as of fuel 2 a large quantity, mass, or crowd 3 the horses left behind by the leaders in a race 4 the multitude or mass of undistinguished, ordinary people or things; common run [ME ruke, a heap < ON hroki, a heap, pile; akin to hruga: see RICK¹]
ruck² (rûk) •n., vt., vi. crease, fold, wrinkle, or pucker [prob. via dial. < ON hrukka]
ruckle (rûk´эl) ruck´led, ruck´ling •vt., vi. Brit. var. of RUCK²
rucksack (rûk´sæk', ruk´-) •n. a kind of knapsack strapped over the shoulders [Ger < dial. form of rücken, the back (see RIDGE) + sack < OHG sac (see SACK¹)]
ruckus (rûk´эs) •n. [Colloq.] noisy confusion; uproar; row; disturbance [prob. a merging of fol. & RUMPUS]
ruction (rûk´shэn) •n. [Colloq.] a riotous outbreak or uproar; noisy disturbance or quarrel [altered < INSURRECTION, orig. with reference to the Irish Insurrection (1798)]
rudbeckia (rûd bek´i: э) •n. any of a genus (Rudbeckia) of perennial North American plants of the composite family, with conical disks and showy yellow, orange, or maroon ray flowers, including the black-eyed Susan [ModL, after O. Rudbeck (1630-1702), Swed botanist]
rudd (rûd) •n. a European freshwater minnow (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) with yellow-orange eyes and red fins, now introduced in the U.S. [akin to ME rude < OE rudu, red; akin to read, RED]
rudder (rûd´эr) •n. 1 a broad, flat, movable piece of wood or metal hinged vertically at the stern of a boat or ship, used for steering 2 a movable piece attached to the vertical stabilizer of an aircraft, etc., used for controlling direction to the left or right 3 something serving to guide, direct, or control rud´der·less •adj. [ME rother < OE; akin to Ger ruder: see ROW²]
rudderpost (-poust') •n. 1 the sternpost, or in some ships an added vertical member, to which the rudder is fastened 2 RUDDERSTOCK
rudderstock (-stäk') •n. the part of a vessel's rudder by which it is pivoted to the sternpost or rudderpost
ruddle (rûd´эl) •n. RED OCHER •vt. -dled, -dling 1 to color or mark with red ocher, esp. to mark sheep thus 2 to cause to flush; redden [< dial. rud, red ocher < ME rude: see RUDD]
ruddleman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person who sells ruddle
ruddock (rûd´эk) •n. [Brit. Dial.] ROBIN (sense 2) [ME ruddok < OE rudduc < rudu, red (see RUDD) + -uc, -OCK]
ruddy (rûd´i:) -di·er, -di·est •adj. 1 having a healthy red color {a ruddy complexion} 2 red or reddish 3 [Brit., etc. Colloq.] confounded: an intensive: also used adverbially [euphemism for BLOODY] rud´di·ness •n. [ME rudi < OE rudig < rudu, red: see RUDD]
ruddy duck a small, North American duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), the breeding male of which has a brownish-red neck and upper body, black crown, white cheeks, and blue bill
rude (ru:d) rud´er, rud´est •adj. 1 crude or rough in form or workmanship {a rude hut} 2 barbarous or ignorant {rude savages} 3 lacking refinement, culture, or elegance; uncouth, boorish, coarse, vulgar, etc. 4 discourteous; unmannerly {a rude reply} 5 rough, violent, or harsh {a rude awakening} 6 harsh in sound; discordant; not musical {rude tones} 7 having or showing little skill or development; primitive {rude drawings} 8 not carefully worked out or finished; not precise {a rude appraisal} 9 sturdy; robust; rugged {rude health} rude´ly •adv. rude´ness •n. SYN.—rude, in this comparison, implies a deliberate lack of consideration for others' feelings and connotes, especially, insolence, impudence, etc. [it was rude of you to ignore your uncle]; ill-mannered connotes ignorance of the amenities of social behavior rather than deliberate rudeness [a well-meaning but ill-mannered fellow]; boorish is applied to one who is rude or ill-mannered in a coarse, loud, or overbearing way; impolite implies merely a failure to observe the forms of polite society [it would be impolite to leave so early]; discourteous suggests a lack of dignified consideration for others [a discourteous reply]; uncivil implies a disregarding of even the most elementary of good manners [her uncivil treatment of the waiter] —ANT. polite, civil [OFr < L rudis, akin to rudus, debris, rubble < IE *reud-, to tear apart < base *reu-, to tear out, dig up > RUG, ROTTEN]
ruderal (ru:´dэr эl) •n. any weedy plant growing in waste places or in rubbish, along the wayside, etc. •adj. weedy [< ModL ruderalis, growing in rubble < L rudus (gen. ruderis), rubbish (see RUDE) + -alis, -AL]
rudesby (ru:dz´bi:) pl. -bies •n. [Archaic] an ill-mannered, rough fellow [orig. prob. jocular alteration (based on RUDE) of pers. name Grimsby]
rudiment (ru:´dэ mэnt) •n. 1 a first principle, element, or fundamental, as of a subject to be learned: usually used in pl. {the rudiments of physics} 2 a first slight beginning or appearance, or undeveloped form or stage, of something: usually used in pl. 3 Biol. an incompletely developed organ or part; specif., a vestigial organ or part with no functional activity; vestige [L rudimentum < rudis: see RUDE]
rudimentary (ru:'dэ men´tэr i:, -men´tri:) •adj. of, or having the nature of, a rudiment or rudiments; specif., a) elementary b) incompletely or imperfectly developed c) vestigial Also ru'di·men´tal ru·di·men·tar·i·ly (ru:'dэ men ter´э li:, -men´tэr э li:) •adv. ru'di·men´ta·ri·ness •n.
Rudolf (ru:´dölf', -dälf'), Lake lake in NW Kenya, on the border of Ethiopia: c. 3,500 sq. mi. (9,065 sq. km); c. 185 mi. (298 km) long
Rudolf I (ru:´dölf') 1218-91; Ger. king & emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1273-91): founder of the Hapsburg dynasty: also called Rudolf I of Hapsburg
Rudolph (ru´dölf', -dälf') a masculine name: dim. Rudy; var. Rodolph, Rolf, Rollo; equiv. Fr. Rodolphe, Ger. Rudolf, It. & Sp. Rodolfo [Ger Rudolf < OHG Rudolf, Hrodulf < hruod-, fame (see ROBERT) + wolf, WOLF]
rue anemone a small, North American, woodland perennial plant (Anemonella thalictroides) of the buttercup family, with white or pinkish flowers in early spring
rue¹ (ru:) rued, ru´ing •vt. 1 to feel remorse or repentance for (a sin, fault, etc.) 2 to wish (an act, promise, etc.) undone or unmade; regret •vi. to be sorrowful or regretful •n. [Archaic] sorrow, repentance, or regret [ME reowen < OE hreowan, akin to Ger reuen, to regret, ON hryggr, sorrowful, prob. < IE base *kreu-, to strike, beat > Gr krouein]
rue² (ru:) •n. any of a genus (Ruta) of strong-scented shrubs of the rue family, esp. an herb (R. graveolens) with yellow flowers and bitter-tasting leaves formerly used in medicine •adj. designating a family (Rutaceae, order Sapindales) of woody dicotyledonous plants, including the gas plant and the citrus plants [OFr < L ruta < Gr rhytē]
rueful (ru:´fэl) •adj. 1 causing sorrow or pity; lamentable 2 a) feeling or showing sorrow or pity; mournful b) feeling or showing regret, esp. in an abashed way rue´ful·ly •adv. rue´ful·ness •n.
rufescent (ru: fes´эnt) •adj. having a red tinge; reddish ru·fes´cence •n. [L rufescens, prp. of rufescere, to become red < rufus, RED]
ruff¹ (rûf) •n. 1 a high, frilled or pleated collar of starched muslin, lace, etc., worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th cent. 2 a band of distinctively colored or protruding feathers or fur about the neck of an animal or bird 3 a Eurasian sandpiper (Philomachus pugnax), the male of which grows a large ruff during the breeding season: the female is called a reeve ruffed (rûft) •adj. [contr. of RUFFLE¹, n.]
ruff² (rûf) •vt., vi. Card Games TRUMP¹ •n. Card Games the act of trumping [< the v.] [OFr roffle, earlier ronfle, altered < ? triomphe: see TRUMP¹]
ruff³ (rûf) •n. 1 a small, spotted, European freshwater perch (Acerina cernua): also ruffe 2 any of various Atlantic butterfishes (genus Centrolophus) [ME ruffe < ? rugh, ROUGH]
ruffed grouse a North American game bird (Bonasa umbellus) with neck feathers that can be extended into a ruff Also called partridge in the N U.S. and pheasant in the S U.S.
ruffian (rûf´i: эn, rûf´yэn) •n. a brutal, violent, lawless person; tough or hoodlum •adj. brutal, violent, and lawless Also ruf´fi·an·ly ruf´fi·an·ism' •n. [Fr rufian < It ruffiano, a pander < dial. roffia, filth < Gmc *hruf-, scurf (akin to OHG ruf, OE hreof) < IE base *kreup- > Lith kraupus, rough: E sense infl. by ROUGH]
ruffle¹ (rûf´эl) -fled, -fling •vt. 1 to take away the smoothness of; wrinkle; ripple {wind ruffling the water} 2 to gather into ruffles 3 to put ruffles on as trimming 4 to make (feathers, etc.) stand up in or as in a ruff, as a bird when frightened 5 to disturb, irritate, or annoy {ruffled by his questions} 6 to turn over (the pages of a book, etc.) rapidly •vi. 1 to become uneven, wrinkled, etc. 2 to become disturbed, irritated, etc. •n. 1 a strip of cloth, lace, etc., gathered in pleats and puckers and used for trimming 2 something like this, as a bird's ruff 3 a disturbance; irritation 4 a break in surface smoothness; ripple ruf´fly, -fli·er, -fli·est, •adj. [ME ruffelen < ON or MLowG, as in LowG, ON hrufla, to scratch]
ruffle² (rûf´эl) •n. a low, continuous beating of a drum, not so loud as a roll •vi., vt. -fled, -fling to beat (a drum, etc.) with a ruffle [also earlier ruff, prob. echoic]
ruffle³ (rûf´эl) -fled, -fling •vi. [Archaic] to swagger or bluster noisily •n. [Now Rare] a noisy disturbance; brawl [ME ruffelen < ?]
rufiyaa (ru:´fi: yä') pl. ru´fi·yaa' •n. the basic monetary unit of the Maldives: see MONEY, table
rufous (ru:´fэs) •adj. brownish-red; rust-colored [L rufus, reddish, RED]
Rufus (ru´fэs) a masculine name [L, red-haired, RED]
rug (rûg) •n. 1 a piece of thick, often napped fabric, woven strips of rag, an animal skin, etc. used as a floor covering: usually distinguished from CARPET in being a single piece of definite shape, not intended to cover the entire floor 2 chiefly Brit. term for LAP ROBE Æ 3 [Slang] a toupee [< Scand, as in Norw dial. rugga, coarse coverlet, Swed rugg, shaggy hair, ON rogg, long hair < IE base *reu-, to tear out: see RUDE]
ruga (ru:´gэ) pl. -gae (-ji:) •n. Anat., etc. a wrinkle, fold, or ridge, as in the lining of the stomach, vagina, palate, etc.: usually used in pl. ru´gate (-geit, -git) •adj. [ModL < L, a wrinkle < IE *rug- < *werg-, to turn < base *wer-]
Rugby (rûg´bi:) 1 city in Warwickshire, central England: pop. 59,000 2 famous school for boys located there: founded 1567 •n. [usually r-] a kind of football, a forerunner of the American game, first played at Rugby school: each team consists of 15 players, action is continuous, and the oval ball may be passed laterally or backward, kicked forward, or carried: in full Rugby football
rugby shirt a kind of jersey, usually of brightly colored striped fabric with a white collar and placket, worn for playing rugby or as casual attire
rugged (rûg´id) •adj. 1 having irregular projections and depressions; uneven in surface or contour; rough; wrinkled {rugged ground, a rugged coast} 2 strong, irregular, and wrinkled: said of the face or facial features 3 stormy; tempestuous {rugged weather} 4 sounding harsh {rugged tones} 5 severe; harsh; hard; stern {rugged manners} Æ 7 strong; robust; sturdy; vigorous 8 [Colloq.] requiring great skill, strength, endurance, etc. {a rugged test} rug´ged·ly •adv. rug´ged·ness •n. [ME, rough, shaggy, prob. < Scand, as in Swed rugga, to roughen: for IE base see RUG]
rugger (rûg´эr) •n. [Brit. Colloq.] var. of RUGBY
rugola (ru: gou´lэ, rû-) •n. ROCKET² (sense 2)
rugosa rose (ru: gou´sэ) an upright, hardy species (Rosa rugosa) of rose, having very prickly stems and rough leaves with furrowed veins, often planted for hedges [< ModL Rosa rugosa, lit., wrinkled rose < L rosa, ROSE¹ + rugosus, wrinkled < ruga, a wrinkle: see RUGA]
rugose (ru:´gous', ru: gous´) Biol. having or full of wrinkles; corrugated; ridged {a rugose leaf} Also ru´gous (-gэs) •adj. ru·gos·i·ty (ru: gäs´э ti:), pl. -ties, •n. [L rugosus: see RUGOSA ROSE]
Ruhr (rur; Ger řu:´эř) 1 river in WC Germany, flowing west into the Rhine: 145 mi. (234 km) 2 major coal-mining & industrial region centered in the valley of this river: also called Ruhr Basin
ruin (ru:´эn, -in') •n. 1 orig., a falling down, as of a building, wall, etc. 2 [pl.] the remains of a fallen building, city, etc., or of something destroyed, devastated, decayed, etc. 3 a) a destroyed or dilapidated building, town, etc. b) a person regarded as being physically, mentally, or morally a wreck of what he or she was 4 the state of being destroyed, decayed, dilapidated, etc. 5 downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.; specif., a) complete loss of means, solvency, position, etc. b) moral downfall c) loss of chastity in a woman 6 any cause of a person's downfall, destruction, etc. {gambling was his ruin} •vt. to bring or reduce to ruin; specif., a) to destroy, spoil, or damage irreparably b) to impoverish or make bankrupt c) to deprive (a woman) of chastity •vi. to go or come to ruin ru´in·er •n. SYN.—ruin implies a state of decay, disintegration, etc. especially through such natural processes as age and weather [the barn is in a state of ruin]; destruction implies annihilation or demolition, as by fire, explosion, flood, etc. [the destruction of the village in an air raid]; havoc suggests total destruction or devastation, as following an earthquake or hurricane; dilapidation implies a state of ruin or shabbiness resulting from neglect [the dilapidation of a deserted house] [ME ruine < OFr < L ruina < ruere, to fall, hurl to the ground < IE *ereu- < base *er-, to set in motion, erect > RUN, RISE]
ruinate (ru:´э neit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt., vi. [Archaic] to ruin •adj. [Archaic] ruined [< ML ruinatus, pp. of ruinare, to ruin < L ruina: see RUIN]
ruination (ru:'э nei´shэn) •n. 1 a ruining or being ruined 2 anything that ruins or causes ruin [< prec. + -ION]
ruinous (ru:´э nэs) •adj. 1 falling or fallen into ruin; dilapidated; decayed 2 bringing or tending to bring ruin; very destructive or harmful; disastrous {ruinous floods} ru´in·ous·ly •adv. ru´in·ous·ness •n. [ME ruinouse < L ruinosus]
Ruisdael (rois´däl', rais´-; Du řës´däl'), Ja·cob van (yä´kôp vän') c. 1628-82; Du. landscape painter
rule (ru:l) •n. 1 a) an authoritative regulation for action, conduct, method, procedure, arrangement, etc. {the rules of the school} b) an established practice that serves as a guide to usage {the rules of grammar} 2 a complete set or code of regulations in a religious order {the Benedictine rule} 3 a fixed principle that determines conduct; habit; custom {to make it a rule never to hurry} 4 something that usually or normally happens or obtains; customary course of events {famine is the rule following war} 5 a) government; reign; control b) the period of reigning of a particular ruler or government 6 a ruler or straightedge 7 [Obs.] way of acting; behavior 8 Law a) a regulation or guide established by a court governing court practice and procedure b) a declaration, order, etc. made by a judge or court in deciding a specific question or point of law c) a legal principle or maxim 9 Math. a method or procedure prescribed for computing or solving a problem 10 Printing a) a thin strip of metal, the height of type, used to print straight or decorative lines, borders, etc. b) a line so printed •vt. ruled, rul´ing 1 to have an influence over; guide {to be ruled by one's friends} 2 to lessen; restrain {reason ruled his fear} 3 to have authority over; govern; direct {to rule a country} 4 to be the most important element of; dominate {action rules the plot} 5 to settle by decree; determine {the court ruled the validity of the point} 6 a) to mark lines on with or as with a ruler b) to mark (a line) thus •vi. 1 to have supreme authority; govern 2 to be at a specified rate or level; prevail: said of prices, commodities, etc. 3 to issue a formal decree about a question SYN. GOVERN, LAW as a rule usually; ordinarily rule out to exclude by decision [ME reule < OFr rieule < L regula, ruler, straightedge < regere, to lead straight, rule: see RIGHT]
rule of three Math. the method of finding the fourth term of a proportion when three terms are given: the product of the first and last terms is equal to the product of the second and third
rule of thumb 1 a rule based on experience or practice rather than on scientific knowledge 2 any method of estimating that is practical though not precise [from the method of measuring by the thumb]
ruled surface Geom. a surface that is the locus of all points on a moving straight line, as a plane, cone, etc.
ruler (ru:l´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that rules or governs 2 a thin strip of wood, metal, etc. with a straight edge and markings in whole and fractional units of length, as inches or centimeters, used in drawing straight lines, measuring length, etc. 3 a person or device that rules lines on paper, etc. rul´er·ship' •n.
ruling (ru:l´iŋ) •adj. that rules; specif., a) governing b) predominating c) prevalent •n. 1 the act of governing 2 an official decision, esp. one made by a court or judge 3 a) the making of ruled lines b) the lines so made
rum¹ (rûm) •n. 1 an alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented sugar cane, molasses, etc. Æ 2 alcoholic liquor in general [short for rumbullion, orig. Devonshire dial., uproar, tumult < ?]
rum² (rûm) •adj. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] 1 odd; strange; queer 2 bad, poor, etc. {a rum joke} [< obs. rum, good, great < ? Rom, a Gypsy: see ROMANY]
rumaki (rэ mä´ki:) pl. -ki •n. an appetizer, of E Asian origin, consisting of chicken liver, usually marinated, wrapped, with a slice of water chestnut, in bacon and broiled [orig. uncert.]
Rumania (ru: mei´ni: э, -mein´yэ) var. of ROMANIA Ru·ma´ni·an •adj., n.
rumba (rum´bэ, rûm´-; Sp řu:m´bä) •n. 1 a dance of Cuban origin and complex rhythm 2 a modern ballroom adaptation of this, with strong rhythmic movements of the lower part of the body 3 music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance •vi. to dance the rumba [AmSp, prob. of Afr orig.]
rumble (rûm´bэl) -bled, -bling •vi. 1 to make a deep, heavy, continuous, rolling sound, as thunder 2 to move or go with such a sound •vt. 1 to cause to make, or move with, such a sound 2 to utter or say with such a sound 3 to polish, mix, etc. in a rumble, or tumbling box •n. 1 a deep, heavy, continuous, rolling sound 2 a widespread expression of discontent or restiveness 3 a space for luggage or a small extra seat, as for servants, in the rear of a carriage 4 TUMBLING BOX Æ 5 [Slang] a fight between gangs, esp. of teenagers rum´bler •n. rum´bling·ly •adv. rum´bly •adj. [ME romblen, prob. < MDu rommelen < IE base *reu- > RUNE, RUMOR]
rumble seat in some earlier automobiles, an open seat in the rear, behind the roofed seat, which could be folded shut when not in use
rumble strip one of a series of strips of pavement altered in various ways so as to cause the tires of a passing automotive vehicle to vibrate audibly as a warning of a road hazard: usually used in pl.
rumbustious (rûm bûs´chэs) •adj. rambunctious, boisterous, unruly, etc. [altered (? after RUM¹) < ROBUSTIOUS]
Rumelia (ru: mi:´li: э, -mi:l´yэ) former Turkish possessions in the Balkan Peninsula, including Macedonia, Thrace, & an autonomous province (Eastern Rumelia) that was annexed to Bulgaria in 1885
rumen (ru:´mэn) pl. -mi·na (-mэ nэ) •n. the first stomach of a ruminant: see RUMINANT, illus. [ModL < L, throat, gullet < IE *reusmen, rumination, throat > Sans rōmantha]
Rumford (rûm´fэrd), Count see THOMPSON, Benjamin
ruminant (ru:´mэ nэnt) •adj. 1 chewing the cud 2 of the cud-chewing animals 3 meditative; thoughtful •n. any of the suborders (Ruminantia and Tylopoda) of four-footed, cud-chewing artiodactylous mammals: cattle, buffalo, goat, deer, antelope, and giraffe have a stomach with four chambers (the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) and the camel, llama, and chevrotain have a stomach with three chambers ru´mi·nant·ly •adv. [L ruminans, prp. of L ruminare, to ruminate < rumen, RUMEN]
ruminate (-neit') -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt., vi. 1 to chew (the cud), as a cow does 2 to turn (something) over in the mind; meditate (on) ru'mi·na´tion •n. ru´mi·na'tive •adj. ru´mi·na'tive·ly •adv. ru´mi·na'tor •n. [< L ruminatus, pp. of ruminare: see RUMINANT]
rummage (rûm´ij) •n. 1 miscellaneous articles; odds and ends 2 a rummaging, or thorough search •vt. -maged, -mag·ing 1 to search through (a place, receptacle, etc.) thoroughly, esp. by moving the contents about, turning them over, etc.; ransack 2 to get, find, or turn up by or as by searching thoroughly: with up or out •vi. to search diligently, now sometimes haphazardly, as through the contents of a receptacle rum´mag·er •n. [aphetic < MFr arrumage < arrumer, to stow cargo in the hold < aruner, to arrange < run, rum, ship's hold < Frank *rum, akin to OE rum, ROOM]
rummage sale a sale of contributed miscellaneous articles, used or new, to raise money for charitable purposes or for some organization
rummer (rûm´эr) •n. a large drinking glass or cup [Du roemer < roemen, to praise (akin to OHG hruom, praise, hruod-, fame: see ROBERT) hence, orig., a glass used for drinking toasts]
rummy¹ (rûm´i:) -mi·er, -mi·est •adj. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] odd; strange; queer Æ n. a card game, played in many variations, in which the object is to match cards into sets of the same denomination or sequences of the same unit [? < the adj.] [RUM² + -Y²]
rummy² (rûm´i:) pl. -mies •n. Æ [Slang] a drunkard •adj. -mi·er, -mi·est of or like rum [RUM¹ + -Y²]
rumor (ru:´mэr) •n. 1 general talk not based on definite knowledge; mere gossip; hearsay 2 an unconfirmed report, story, or statement in general circulation 3 [Archaic] fame 4 [Obs.] loud protest, clamor, or uproar •vt. to tell, report, or spread by rumor or as a rumor Brit., etc. sp. ru´mour [ME rumour < OFr < L rumor, noise < IE echoic base *reu-, to roar, grumble > RUNE, OE reotan, to complain]
rumormonger (-mûŋ'gэr, -mäŋ'-) •n. a person who spreads rumors
rump (rûmp) •n. 1 the hind part of the body of an animal, where the legs and back join, or the sacral part of a bird 2 a cut of meat, usually beef, from this part, behind the loin and above the round: see BEEF, illus. 3 the buttocks 4 the last, unimportant or inferior part; mere remnant 5 a legislature or other body having only a remnant of its former membership, as because of expulsions, and hence regarded as unrepresentative and without authority [ME rumpe < ON rumpr, akin to Ger rumpf, trunk (of the body) < IE base *remb-, *romb-, to chop, notch > Czech roubiti, to chop]
Rump Parliament 1 the part of the Long Parliament remaining after the purge of 1648 until disbanded by Cromwell in 1653 2 the same body recalled in 1659 and disbanded in 1660
Rumpelstiltskin (rûm'pэl stilt´skin) Gmc. Folklore a dwarf who saves the life of a king's bride by spinning flax into gold in exchange for her first child: he agrees to free her from the bargain if she can guess his name, which she does
rumple (rûm´pэl) •n. an uneven fold or crease •vt., vi. -pled, -pling 1 to make rumples (in) 2 to make or become disheveled or tousled rum´ply •adv. [MDu rompel < rompe, a wrinkle, akin to OE hrympel, a wrinkle < IE *(s)kremb-, to twist: see SHRIMP]
rumpus (rûm´pэs) •n. [Colloq.] an uproar or commotion [< ?]
rumpus room early term for RECREATION ROOM (or HALL)
rumrunner (rûm´rûn'эr) •n. a person, ship, etc. engaged in smuggling alcoholic liquor rum´run'ning •n.
run (rûn) ran or •vi. [Dial.] run, run, run´ning 1 to go by moving the legs rapidly, faster than in walking, and (in a two-legged animal) in such a way that for an instant both feet are off the ground 2 a) to go rapidly; move swiftly {a ship running before the wind} b) to resort (to) for aid {always running to the police} 3 to associate or consort (with) 4 to go, move, grow, etc. easily and freely, without hindrance or restraint 5 to go away rapidly; flee 6 to make a quick trip (up to, down to, over to, etc. a specified place) for a brief stay 7 a) to take part in a contest or race Æ b) to be a candidate in an election 8 to finish a contest or race in the specified position {to run last} 9 to swim in migration, as upstream or inshore for spawning, etc.: said of fish 10 to go, as on a schedule; ply between two points {a bus that runs between Chicago and Detroit} 11 to go or pass lightly and rapidly {his eyes ran over the page} 12 to be current; circulate {a rumor running through the town} 13 to climb or creep: said of plants {a vine running over the wall} 14 to move continuously {his tongue ran on and on} 15 to ravel lengthwise in a knitted fabric 16 to function or operate with or as with parts that revolve, slide, etc. {a machine that is running} 17 to recur or return to the mind 18 to flow {a running stream} 19 to melt and flow {the wax ran} 20 a) to spread when put on a surface, as a liquid b) to spread over or be diffused through cloth, etc. when moistened, as colors c) to be subject to such spreading of color, as fabric 21 to be wet or covered with a flow {eyes running with tears} 22 to give passage to a fluid; specif., a) to discharge pus, mucus, etc. b) to leak, as a faucet 23 to elapse {the days ran into weeks} 24 a) to appear in print, as in a newspaper b) to appear or be presented continuously or in a continuing series {a play that ran for a year} 25 a) to continue in effect or force {a law running for twenty years} b) to continue to occur; recur {talent runs in the family} 26 to be characterized by having, producing, using, etc.: with to {their taste runs to exotic foods} 27 a) to extend in or as in a continuous line {a fence running through the woods} b) to include so as to show variety (with from and to) {a repertoire running from tragedy to comedy} 28 to pass into a specified condition, situation, etc. {to run into trouble} 29 to sail or float (aground, etc.): said of a ship 30 to be written, expressed, played, etc. in a specified way {the adage runs like this} 31 to be or continue at a specified size, price, amount, etc. {apples running four to the pound} 32 Naut. to sail with the wind coming from astern •vt. 1 to run along or follow (a specified course or route) 2 to travel over; cover by running, driving, etc. {horses ran the range} 3 to do or perform by or as by running {to run a race} 4 to subject oneself to (a risk); incur Æ 5 a) to get past or escape by going through {to run a blockade} b) to go past or through without making a required stop {to run a stop sign or a red light} 6 to pursue or hunt (game, etc.) 7 to compete with in or as in a race; vie with 8 a) to enter (a horse, etc.) in a race Æ b) to put up or support as a candidate for election 9 a) to make run, move, operate, etc. b) to cause to go between points, as on a schedule c) to cause (a motor or engine) to idle for a while d) to make (a stocking) run 10 to bring, lead, or force into a specified condition, situation, etc. by or as by running {to run oneself into debt} 11 a) to carry or convey, as in a ship or vehicle; transport b) to carry (taxable or outlawed goods) in or out illegally; smuggle 12 to drive, force, or thrust (an object) into, through, or against (something) 13 to make go, move, pass, flow, etc., esp. rapidly, in a specified way, direction, place, etc. {to run water into a glass} 14 Æ a) to be in charge of; manage {to run a household} Æ b) to keep, feed, or graze (livestock) c) to perform the steps of (an experiment, test, etc.) d) to cause to undergo a test, procedure, process, etc. 15 to cost (an amount) {boots that run $20} 16 to mark, draw, or trace (lines, as on a map) 17 to extend, pass, or trace in a specified way or direction {to run a story back to its source} 18 to undergo or be affected by (a fever, etc.) 19 to flow with, discharge, or pour forth {gutters running blood} 20 to melt, fuse, or smelt (ore) 21 to cast or mold, as from molten metal; found Æ 22 to print; esp., to publish (an advertisement, story, etc.) in a newspaper or magazine 23 Billiards to complete successfully (a specified number of strokes, shots, etc.) in uninterrupted sequence 24 Bridge to lead consecutively the remaining cards of (an established suit) 25 Golf to cause (a ball) to roll, esp. on a green •n. 1 an act or period of running or moving rapidly 2 a) a race for runners b) a running pace; rapid gait c) capacity for running 3 the distance covered or time spent in running 4 a trip; journey; esp., a) a single, customary, or regular trip, as of a train, ship, or plane b) a quick trip, esp. for a brief stay c) ROUTE (sense 2) 5 a) movement onward, progression, or trend {the run of events} b) a continuous course or period of a specified condition, action, etc. {a run of good luck} 6 direction or course, as of the grain of wood, a vein of ore, etc. 7 a continuous course of performances, showings, etc. {a play that had a run of a year} 8 a series of continued, sudden, or urgent requests or demands, as by customers for certain goods, or by bank depositors for their funds 9 a period of being in public demand or favor 10 a continuous series or sequence, as three or more cards in unbroken order in one suit 11 a continuous extent of something 12 a flow or rush of water, etc., as of the tide 13 a small, swift stream, as a brook, rivulet, etc. 14 a) a period during which some fluid flows readily b) the amount of flow 15 a) a period of operation of a machine b) the output during this period 16 a) a kind, sort, or class, as of goods b) the ordinary, usual, or average kind or type 17 something in, on, or along which something else runs; specif., a) an inclined pathway or course {a ski run} b) a track, channel, trough, pipe, etc. c) an enclosed area in which domestic animals or fowl can move about freely or feed {a chicken run} d) in Australia, a large grazing area or ranch e) a well-defined trail or path made and used by animals {a buffalo run} 18 freedom to use all the facilities or move freely in any part (of a place) {to have the run of an estate} 19 a) a number of animals in motion together b) a large number of fish migrating together, as upstream or inshore for spawning c) such migration of fish Æ 20 a ravel lengthwise in something knitted, as in hosiery Æ 21 Baseball a scoring point, made by a successful circuit of the bases 22 Billiards an uninterrupted sequence of successful strokes, shots, etc. 23 Cricket a scoring point, made by a successful running of both batsmen from one wicket to the other 24 Mil. the approach to the target made by an airplane in bombing, strafing, etc. 25 Comput. one execution of a program 26 Music a rapid succession of tones, as a roulade 27 Naut. the after part of a ship's bottom, from where it starts to curve up and in toward the stern •adj. 1 melted; made liquid 2 poured or molded while in a melted state {run metal} 3 drained or extracted, as honey 4 having migrated and spawned: said of fish a run for one's money 1 powerful competition 2 some satisfaction for what one has expended, as in betting on a near winner in a race in the long run in the final outcome; ultimately in the short run in the beginning; at first; initially on the run 1 running 2 hurrying from place to place or task to task 3 running away; in retreat Æ run across to encounter by chance run after 1 to pursue or follow 2 [Colloq.] to seek the company or companionship of run along to leave or depart run away 1 to flee 2 to desert one's home or family 3 to escape and run loose, as a horse run away with 1 to depart and take with one; esp., to steal 2 to carry out of control {his enthusiasm ran away with him} 3 a) to outdo greatly all other contestants or performers in b) to get (a prize, honors, etc.) in this way run back to carry (a football) toward the opponent's goal, as after receiving a kickoff run down 1 to cease to run, or stop operating, as a mechanical device, through lack of power 2 to run, ride, or drive against so as to knock down 3 to pursue and capture or kill 4 to search out the source of 5 to speak of slightingly or injuriously; disparage 6 to lessen or lower in worth, quality, etc.; make or become run-down 7 to read through rapidly Æ 8 Baseball to catch and tag (a base runner trapped between two bases) run for it to run in order to escape or avoid something run in 1 to include or insert, as something additional 2 [Colloq.] to make a brief stop or visit at a place Æ 3 [Slang] to take into legal custody; arrest 4 Printing to make continuous without a break or paragraph run into 1 to encounter by chance 2 to run, ride, or drive against so as to hit; collide with 3 to add up to (a large sum of money): also run to run off Æ 1 to print, typewrite, make copies of, etc. 2 to cause to be run, performed, played, etc. 3 to decide the winner of (a race, etc.) by a runoff 4 to drive (animals, trespassers, etc.) off or away 5 to flow off; drain 6 RUN AWAY run on 1 a) to continue or be continued b) Printing to continue without a break or new paragraph 2 to add (something) at the end 3 to talk continuously run out 1 to come to an end; expire or become used up, exhausted, etc. 2 to force to leave; drive out run out of to use up a supply of (something) run out on [Colloq.] to abandon or desert Æ run out the clock Basketball, Football to maintain control of the ball in the closing minutes of a game run over 1 to ride or drive over as with an automobile 2 to overflow 3 to go beyond a limit 4 to examine, rehearse, etc. rapidly or casually run scared [Slang] to base one's actions upon the possibility or likelihood of failure run through 1 to use up, spend, etc. quickly or recklessly 2 to pierce 3 RUN OVER (sense 4) run up 1 to raise, rise, make, or build rapidly 2 to let (bills, debts, etc.) accumulate 3 to sew with a rapid succession of stitches [altered (with vowel prob. infl. by pp.) < ME rinnen, rennen < ON & OE: ON rinna, to flow, run, renna, to cause to run (< Gmc *rannjan); OE rinnan, iornan: both < Gmc *renwo < IE base *er-, to set in motion, excite > RAISE, L origo, ORIGIN]
runabout (rûn´э baut') •n. 1 a person who runs about from place to place 2 a light, one-seated, open carriage Æ 3 a light, one-seated, open automobile; roadster Æ 4 a light motorboat
runagate (-э geit') •n. [Archaic] 1 a runaway; fugitive or deserter 2 a person who drifts or wanders about; vagabond [altered (< RUN + obs. agate, on the way) < ME renegat, apostate, villain < OFr < ML renegatus: see RENEGADE]
runaround (-э raund') •n. Æ 1 [Colloq.] a series of evasive excuses, deceptions, delays, etc.: usually in get (or give) the runaround 2 Printing an arrangement of type in shorter lines than the rest of the text, as around an illustration
runaway (-э wei') •n. 1 a person, animal, etc. that is running away or has run away; specif., a) a fugitive or deserter b) a horse, team of horses, etc. that has broken loose from control of the rider or driver 2 the act of running away 3 a runaway race or victory •adj. 1 running away or having run away; escaping, eloping, or breaking loose from control {runaway lovers, a runaway horse} 2 of or done by runaways or running away {a runaway marriage} 3 easily won, as a race, or decisive, as a victory 4 a) rising rapidly, as prices b) characterized by an uncontrolled rise of prices {runaway inflation} Æ 5 relocated in order to evade agreements with a local union, local taxes, etc. {a runaway shop}
runback (-bæk') •n. Football the act of running back with the ball, as after receiving the kickoff or intercepting a forward pass
runcible spoon (rûn´sэ bªl) a table utensil of indefinite form referred to by Edward Lear in his humorous poem The Owl and the Pussycat (1871) Term later applied to any of various utensils with broad tines and a spoonlike shape [coined by Edward LEAR < ? obs. rounceval, huge (< ?) + -IBLE]
runcinate (rûn´si nit, -neit) •adj. Bot. irregularly saw-toothed, with the teeth or lobes curved backward, as some leaves: see LEAF, illus. [L runcinatus, pp. of runcinare, to plane off < runcina, a plane (formerly understood as saw)]
Rundi (ru:n´di:) •n. 1 pl. -dis or -di a member of a people living in Burundi 2 the Bantu language of this people
rundle (rûn´dэl) •n. 1 [Obs.] a rung, or round, as of a ladder 2 any of the bars in a lantern pinion 3 something that rotates, as a wheel or the drum of a capstan [ME rundel: see ROUNDEL]
rundlet (rûnd´lit) •n. [Archaic] 1 a small barrel or cask for liquor 2 the capacity of such a cask, usually taken as equal to about 18 wine gallons [ME roundelet < MFr rondelet, dim. of rondelle, little tun or barrel, round shield, dim. of rond, ROUND¹]
rundown (rûn´daun') •n. 1 a concise summary or outline Æ 2 Baseball the act of running down a base runner
run-down (rûn´daun´) •adj. 1 not wound and therefore not running, as a spring-operated clock 2 in poor physical condition, as from overwork; weak and exhausted; debilitated 3 fallen into disrepair; dilapidated