riffle
1186
rif·fle /'rɪfəl/ v
riffle through sthg, phr v [T] infml to turn over (papers, pages
etc) quickly with one's finger
riff-raff /'rɪfræf/ n [U+sing./pl. v] derog worthless badly-behaved
people: Why did she invite all this/these riffraff to her party?
ri·fle¹ /'raɪfəl/ n a gun with a long rifled barrel, which is fired
from the shoulder → compare HANDGUN
rifle² v [T] to make GROOVES (curved cuts) inside (the barrel of
a gun) so as to make the bullets spin
rifle³ v [T] to search through and steal everything valuable
from (e.g. a desk, drawers, handbag etc): The drawers had
been rifled and several valuable documents taken.
'rifle range n a place where people practise shooting with
rifles
ri·fling /'raɪflɪŋ/ n [U] the cuts (GROOVES) inside the barrel of
a rifled gun
rift /rɪft/ n [(between, in)] a crack or narrow opening in a large
mass: The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds. | (fig.) I
hope we can heal the rift between them - they used to be such
good friends.
'rift valley n a valley with very steep sides, formed by the
cracking and slipping of the Earth's surface
rig¹ /rɪg/ v -gg- [T] to provide (a ship) with the necessary
ropes, sails etc: a fully-rigged vessel
rig sbdy. ⇔ out phr v [T(as, in)] to dress (someone) in special
or funny clothes; DRESS up (1,2): She was rigged out/She
rigged herself out in a bright orange uniform. | They rigged
the little boy out as a sailor. → see also RIG-OUT
rig sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] infml to put together for a short time
out of materials easily found: We can rig up an aerial from
these pieces of wire.
rig² n 1 the way a ship's sails and the MASTS that carry them
are arranged: Most modern yachts have a fore and aft rig, but
the old galleons were square-rigged. 2 (usually in comb.) a piece
of apparatus used for the stated purpose: a drilling rig → see
also OILRIG 3 infml a set of clothes; the way a person is
dressed: He looked rather out of place when he turned up in
full ceremonial rig. → see also RIG-OUT 4 infml, especially AmE
a large TRUCK, especially when fully loaded
rig³ v -gg- [T] to arrange (an event) dishonestly for one's own
advantage: They complained that the election had been rigged.
Ri·ga /'ri:gə/ the capital city of Latvia on the coast of the
Baltic Sea
rig·a·ma·role /'rɪgəməroʊl/ n [S;U] RIGMAROLE
rig·a·to·ni /ˌrɪgə'təʊni/ n [P] a type of PASTA in the shape of
short RIBBED tubes → see picture at PASTA
Rigg, Dame Diana /rɪg/ (1938-) a British actress in the
theatre, on television, and in films. She became famous as
the character Emma Peel in the television programme The
Avengers (1965-67), but has also acted in many serious plays,
including plays by Shakespeare.
rig·ging /'rɪgɪŋ/ n [(the) U] all the ropes, chains etc, that hold
up a ship's sails: The sailor climbed up the rigging to see if he
could sight land.
right¹ /raɪt/ adj 1 [A] on, for, or belonging to the side of the
body away from the heart: one's right arm/eye | my right
shoe 2 [A] on, by, or in the direction of one's right side: the
right bank of the river | Take a right turn at the cross-
roads. 3 belonging to, connected with, or supporting the
RIGHT in politics; RIGHT WING: She's very right. | a small
far-right party (=with strong RIGHT-WING views) → opposite
LEFT
right² n 1 [(the) U] the RIGHT side or direction: Keep to the
right. | He doesn't know his left from his right. | Take the next
turning on/ to your right. (=the next one you come to on
your right side) | The Conservative party is to the right of the
Liberals. 2 [(the+sing./pl. v] (often cap.) political parties or groups,
such as the Conservatives in Britain and the Republicans in
the US, that have NATIONALISTIC views and are in favour of
less state control and more FREE ENTERPRISE and choice.
They generally support the employers or those in official
positions rather than the workers: The election results mean
that the Right has/have gained control of the Senate. → see
also RIGHT WING 3 [C] a blow struck with the right hand: He
got me with a right to the jaw. → opposite LEFT 4 be
somewhere to the right of Ghengis Khan/Attila the Hun
to have very strong RIGHT-WING political opinions
right³ adj 1 just, proper, or morally correct; in accordance
with accepted ideas of what is good: I'll try to do whatever is
right. | It's difficult to know what is the right thing to do in this
situation. | It's not right to tell lies. | It's only right that you
should know. (=You ought to know.) | I thought it right to tell
you. | [+to-v] You were quite right to report the matter to the
police. 2 [(in)] correct or true; in accordance with the facts: Is
that the right time? | He gave the right answer. | Would I be right
in thinking that you come from Australia? | 'Is this Piccadilly
Circus?' 'Yes, that's right.' 3 most suitable; best for a particu-
lar purpose: Are we going in the right direction? | I think he's
the right person for the job. | She's the sort of woman who
always says the right things and knows the right (=socially
important) people. | a newspaper with just the right mixture of
serious comment and entertaining articles 4 in a correct, satis-
factory, or healthy state, position etc: The wiring is all wrong
- you'll have to call an electrician to put it right. | That picture
isn't quite right - could you straighten it? | I'm sorry about all
the trouble I've caused - I'll do my best to put/set things right. |
A week by the sea will soon put you right again. (=cure you or
make you feel better) | You've got a mild case of food poisoning
but don't worry - you'll be right as rain (=perfectly healthy)
in a couple of days. | Don't pay any attention to what she says -
she's not (quite) right in the head/in her right mind. (=she's
mad) 5 [A] BrE infml (especially of something bad) complete; to
a great degree: That man's a right idiot! 6 Right you are! also
Right oh! — BrE infml yes; I will; I agree: 'Shut the window
please.' 'Right you are!' → opposite WRONG; see also RIGHTLY
see someone right (SEE) 7 right? infml is that right?: You're
Mrs Smith's daughter, right? → -ness n [U] They believe in the
rightness of what they're doing.
right⁴ n 1 [U] what is RIGHT: You're old enough to know the
difference between right and wrong. 2 [C;U(to, of)] (a) morally
just or legal claim: She has a/the right to half your money. |
the right to a fair trial | We fought for the right of access to
government information. | [+to-v] to exercise one's right to
vote | You have no right to (=should not) treat me like this. | I
know he's the boss, but that doesn't give him the right to order
us around. | I've got every right to be annoyed. (=it is quite
reasonable that I am) | (fm) Every shareholder will receive an
invitation to the meeting as of right. (=because they are
SHAREHOLDERS, without any further special claim) | She is
British by right of birth. | You'd be quite within your rights
(=not going beyond your just claims) to refuse to work on
Sundays. 3 in one's own right because of a personal claim
that does not depend on anyone else: Elizabeth II is queen of
England in her own right. (=rather than through marriage to
a king) 4 in the right having justice on one's side; not
deserving blame: We must find out which of them was in the
right. → opposite in the wrong (WRONG³); see also RIGHTS
right⁵ adv 1 towards the RIGHT: Turn right at the crossroads
→ opposite LEFT 2 properly or correctly: Luckily I guessed
right. | Did I do it right? → opposite WRONG 3 [+adv/prep]
exactly: She was standing right in the middle of the room. |
Do it right now. | The police arrived right at the moment of the
explosion. 4 [+adv/prep] directly; straight: Go right home at
once; don't stop off anywhere on the way. | There's the house
right in front of you. | right after breakfast 5 [+adv/prep]
completely; all the way: Go right to the end of the road. | Go
right back to the beginning. | I haven't read the book right
through. | I'm right behind you there. (=support you com-
pletely) 6 BrE slang, NEngE, or old use very: He's a right argumen-
tative little brat. | I'm right glad to see you, lad. | (in some
titles) the Right Honourable John Jones | the Right Reverend
Bishop Jenkins 7 (used in answer to a suggestion or order)
yes; I will; ALL RIGHT: 'Come tomorrow.' 'Right! What time?' →
see also ALL RIGHT 8 right and left also right, left, and
centre — infml everywhere or in every way: We're losing
money right and left. 9 right away also right off especially AmE
— at once; without delay 10 right on slang (used to express
agreement or approval) exactly correct 11 Too right BrE Aust
You are correct; I agree
right⁶ v [T] to put (something) right or upright again; bring
back to a correct position or condition: The boat capsized
but we soon righted it. | to right the wrongs that have been
done to these people