in London (=a very serious infectious disease, quickly causing death to large numbers of people), because when people coughed and sneezed (SNEEZE), saying ‘atishoo’, it was a sign that they had caught the plague.
Ring-a,round-the-'rosy a US children's singing game which has the same origin as Ring a ring o' roses:
Ring-around-the-rosy,
Pocket full of posy,
Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down.
ring ,binder n a notebook whose loose pages are held in position by metal rings fastened to a firm back
ring·er /ˈrɪŋər/ n 1 a person who rings bells, especially in a church 2 AmE a person who enters a sports competition against the rules → see also DEAD RINGER
ring finger n the third finger of the left hand (or, in some parts of the world, the right hand), on which a WEDDING RING is usually worn → see picture at HAND
ring·ing /'rɪŋɪŋ/ adj emotional, definite and expressed openly: He praised her in ringing tones. \ a ringing condemnation of human rights abuses
ring·lead·er /ˈrɪŋˌliːdər/ n a person who leads others to do wrong or make trouble: Police arrested the ringleaders, but let the rest go free.
ring·let /'riŋlət/ n a long hanging curl of hair: a pretty child with golden ringlets
ring·mas·ter /'riŋ,ma:stər/ -mæ-/ n a person, especially a man, whose job is directing performances in a CIRCUS
ring-pull BrE || pull tab AmE n a ring on a tin of drink which is pulled to open it; It comes in a ring-pull can.
ring·side /'rɪŋsaɪd/ adj, n [the] (at) the edge of a RING: We had ringside seats/seats by the ringside for the big fight, and saw it all.
ring road BrE ∥ beltway AmE — n a road that goes round the edge of a large town so that traffic does not have to pass through the centre
ring ,spanner BrE   box end wrench AmE — n a type of SPANNER with a hollow end that fits over the NUT to be screwed or unscrewed
ring·tone /'rɪŋtəʊn/ n the sound a phone makes when you receive a call
CULTURAL NOTE You can buy popular songs or other pieces of music as a ringtone for a MOBILE PHONE, and many young people in the UK regularly change their ringtone.
'ing·way /'riŋweɪ/ n (a name for) a main road which goes round a town rather than through it
'ing·worm /'riŋwɜːm/ -wɜːrm/ n [U] a skin disease passed on by touch, causing red rings often on the head
ink /rɪŋk/ n a specially prepared surface of a) ice, for skating (SKATE) b) any hard material, for using ROLLER SKATES
in-ky-dink /'riŋki dɪŋk/ adj AmE slang small, worn, and without much to interest one
inse¹ /rins/ v [T] 1 [(out)] to clean using fresh water, especially to put (clothes or hair) in clean water in order to remove soap after washing: I'll just rinse (out) these shirts. I Rinse your mouth (out) with this mouthwash. 2 [+adv / prep, especially out] to remove (soap, dirt etc) from something by rinsing: Rinse the soap out of these shirts/out of your hair. I She rinsed out the sea water from her swimming-costume.
inse² n 1 [C] an act of rinsing: Give the shirts at least three rinses. 2 [C;U] (a) pale liquid for colouring the hair: a (bottle of) blue rinse for grey hair
inse Aid trademark a liquid put into a dishwasher to stop the
rinsing water leaving marks on the plates etc
Ri-o de Ja-nei-ro /,ri-au da 3a'ni-er-ull-det 3a'ne-erau/ also Rio a large city and port in East Brazil. Rio was the capital of Brazil until the new city of Brasilia was built in 1960. It is famous for its beaches, such as the COPACABANA, its CARNIVAL, and for Sugarloaf Mountain, on which there is a very large STATUE of Jesus Christ.
ii-o Grande, the /,ri:əʊ 'grænd/ a river in the south of the US which forms a border between the US and Mexico. The Mexican name for it is Rio Bravo.
,Rio 'Summit, the → see EARTH SUMMIT
riot¹ /'rɑːt/ n 1 [C] a scene of noisy, uncontrolled, often violent behaviour by a large disorderly crowd of people: The sudden increase in the price of bread led to riots in the streets. The army had to be called in to put down the riot. The riot police used teargas to control the mob. 2 [S] infml a very funny and successful occasion or person: You should go and see the new show – it's a riot. 3 [S+of] a bright and splendid show: The garden is a riot of colour in summer. 4 run riot a) to become violent and uncontrollable: The football supporters ran riot through the town after their team lost the match. b) (of a plant) to grow thickly and uncontrollably
$  \text{riot}^2 \nu [i]  $ to take part in a riot; crowds rioting in the streets
—~er n
'riot act n read the riot act usually humor to severely warn (a person or group) to stop making trouble: If the children don't quieten down and go to sleep, I'll go upstairs and read (them) the riot act.
riotous /'raɪətəs/ adj 1 (of people or behaviour) wild, uncontrolled, and disorderly: a riotous crowd | They were charged with riotous assembly. (=taking part in a riot) | riotous laughter 2 (of an occasion) noisy and exciting: They spent a riotous night drinking and singing. ︷ly adv ︸ness n [U]
rip¹ /rip/ v -pp- [|T] ↑ to tear or be torn quickly and violently: The sail ripped under the force of the wind. | I ripped my tights on a nail. | Impatiently, he ripped the letter open. | The cat's ripped the cushion cover to pieces/into shreds. | (fig.) He ripped my argument to pieces. → see also RIPPER 2 let something rip infml to let something start or continue without any controls or limits: OK, driver - open the throttle and really let her rip!
rip sbdy./sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T] 1 infml derog to charge too much: They really ripped us off at that hotel! 2 slang to steal: Someone's ripped off my new bicycle! → see also RIP-OFF
rip sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] to tear violently into pieces: She
winna the letter up angrily.
rip into sbdy. phr v [T] to angrily attack someone with words or physically: He really ripped into Sue for not showing up when she was supposed to.
rip² n a long tear or cut: There was a rip in the tyre caused by a sharp stone.
RIP /,a:r aɪ 'piː/ written abbrev. for Rest in Peace (=words written on a stone over a grave)
rip·cord /ˈriːpkɔːdll-kɔːrd/ n 1 the cord that one pulls to open a PARACHUTE after jumping from an aircraft 2 the cord that one pulls to let gas out of a BALLOON
ripe /raɪp/ adj 1 (especially of fruit and crops) fully grown and ready to be eaten: These apples aren't ripe; they'll give you indigestion. | a field of ripe corn | a ripe old Stilton cheese | (fig.) her ripe red lips → opposite UNRIPE 2 [F(for)] in a suitable condition (for something, especially a change or new development): This land is ripe for industrial development. | The time was ripe for a challenge to the power of the government. 3 old-fashionful shocking in an amusing way: That joke was rather ripe. 4 a ripe old age a very great age: He lived to a ripe old age. | (humor) She first appeared on stage at the ripe old age of six. ︷ness n [U]
rip·en /'raɪpən/ v [ɒt] to become or make ripe: The corn ripens in the sun. | The sun ripens the corn.
Rip-ken, Jr., Cal /'ripkən 'dʒuːniər, kæl/ (1960-) a former US BASEBALL player for the Baltimore Orioles team. He played 2362 games one after the other which is a record, and he is considered to be one of the best SHORTSTOPs in baseball history.
'rip-off n 1 infmi derog an act of charging too much: They charged you £5 for a coffee? What a rip-off! 2 slang an act of stealing → see also RIP OFF
ri·poste¹ /ri'post, ri'pæust|ri'pæust/ n 1 a quick, clever, and often unfriendly reply; RETORT 2 (in FENCING) a quick return stroke with a sword
riposte² v 1 [i;T] to reply as a RIPOSTE 2 [i] to make a RIPOSTE
Rip-per, the /'riprər/ a name used especially in newspapers and news programmes for a murderer whose real name is