ruffle

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ruf=fle

CIDE DICTIONARY

ruffle, v. t. [From Ruff a plaited collar, a drum beat, a tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.].

•  To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.  [1913 Webster]
•  To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.  [1913 Webster]
•  To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.  [1913 Webster]

  "The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile."  [1913 Webster]

  "She smoothed the ruffled seas."  [1913 Webster]
•  To erect in a ruff, as feathers.  [1913 Webster]

  "[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume."  [1913 Webster]
•  To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.  [1913 Webster]
•  To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.  [1913 Webster]

  "These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind."  [1913 Webster]

  "But, ever after, the small violence done
  Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart."  [1913 Webster]
•  To throw into disorder or confusion.  [1913 Webster]

  "Where best
  He might the ruffled foe infest."  [1913 Webster]
•  To throw together in a disorderly manner.  [1913 Webster]

  "I ruffled up falen leaves in heap."  [1913 Webster]

To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.

ruffle, v. i. [Perhaps of different origin from ruffle to wrinkle; cf. OD. roffeln, roffen, to pander, LG. raffein, Dan. ruffer a pimp. Cf. Rufflan.].

•  To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.  [1913 Webster]

  "The night comes on, and the bleak winds
  Do sorely ruffle."  [1913 Webster]
•  To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.  [1913 Webster]

  "On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined,
  Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.  [1913 Webster]

  "They would ruffle with jurors."  [1913 Webster]

  "Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery."  [1913 Webster]

ruffle, n. [See Ruffle, v. t. & i.].

•  That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.  [1913 Webster]
•  A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.  [1913 Webster]
•  A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also ruff.  H. L. Scott.  [1913 Webster]
•  The connected series of large egg capsules, or oöthecæ, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Oötheca.  [1913 Webster]

Ruffle of a boot, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited. Halliwell.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ruffle, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. disturb the smoothness or tranquillity of.
2 tr. upset the calmness of (a person).
3 tr. gather (lace etc.) into a ruffle.
4 tr. (often foll. by up) (of a bird) erect (its feathers) in anger, display, etc.
5 intr. undergo ruffling.
6 intr. lose smoothness or calmness.
--n.
1 an ornamental gathered or goffered frill of lace etc. worn at the opening of a garment esp. round the wrist, breast, or neck.
2 perturbation, bustle.
3 a rippling effect on water.
4 the ruff of a bird etc. (see RUFF(1) 2).
5 Mil. a vibrating drum-beat.

Etymology

ME: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

ruffle

abrade, addle, addle the wits, ado, affect, aggravate, agitate, agitation, annoy, arouse, badger, bait, ball up, barrage, be at, beading, beat, beat a ruffle, beat a tattoo, beat the drum, beat time, beat up, beating, becloud, bedazzle, bedevil, befuddle, befuddlement, beset, bewilder, bewilderment, binding, bludgeon, bluster, bordering, bordure, bother, botheration, bristle, brouhaha, browbeat, brown off, bug, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, burn up, bustle, chafe, chaos, chivy, churn, churn up, cloud, clutter, commotion, confuse, confusion, convulse, corrugate, count, count the beats, cow, crease, creasing, crimp, crinkle, crisp, crumple, daze, dazzle, derange, devil, disarrange, disarray, discombobulate, discombobulation, discomfit, discomfiture, discompose, discomposure, disconcert, disconcertion, dishevel, dislocate, disorder, disorganization, disorganize, disorient, disorientation, disquiet, distemper, disturb, disturbance, dog, dog-ear, double, double over, doubling, dragoon, drum, drum music, drumbeat, drumfire, drumming, duplicature, ebullience, ebullition, eddy, edging, effervescence, electrify, embarrass, embarrassment, embitter, embroilment, enfold, entangle, erode, exasperate, excite, exercise, fan, fash, feery-fary, ferment, fermentation, fimbria, fimbriation, flare, flection, flexure, flounce, flummox, flurry, fluster, flute, flutter, fog, fold, fold over, frenzy, fret, frill, frilling, fringe, fuddle, fuddlement, fume, furbelow, fuss, gall, galloon, gather, gathering, get, go pitapat, graze, gripe, harass, harry, haze, heckle, hector, hem, hex, hound, huff, hurly-burly, hurry, hurry-scurry, incense, inflame, infold, interfold, intimidate, irk, irritate, jar, jolt, jumble, keep time, lap over, lapel, lappet, list, litter, maze, mess, mess up, miff, misarrange, mist, mix up, moider, molest, motif, muddle, muddlement, muss, muss up, nag, needle, nettle, nudzh, paddle, palpitate, palpitation, paradiddle, patter, peeve, pell-mell, peplum, perplex, perplexity, persecute, perturb, perturbate, perturbation, pester, pick on, pique, pitapat, pitter-patter, plague, plait, plat, play drum, pleat, plica, plicate, plication, plicature, pluck the beard, ply, pother, pound, pounding, provoke, psych out, pucker, pulsate, pulsation, put out, quill, raise hell, rankle, rat-a-tat, rat-tat, rat-tat-tat, rataplan, rattattoo, rattle, ride, rile, ripple, rock, roil, roll, roughen, rub, rub-a-dub, ruche, ruching, ruff, rumple, scatter, selvage, set on edge, set up, shake, shake up, shock, shuffle, skirting, sound a tattoo, spatter, splatter, splutter, spook, sputter, staccato, stagger, stew, stir, stir the blood, stir up, strong-arm, sweat, swirl, swirling, swivet, tangle, tap, tat-tat, tattoo, tease, throb, throbbing, throw, throw into confusion, thrum, thump, thumping, tizzy, to-do, tom-tom, torment, tousle, trimming, trouble, try the patience, tuck, tumult, turbulence, turmoil, turn over, tweak the nose, twill, unnerve, unsettle, unsettlement, unstring, uproar, upset, valance, vex, voodoo, vortex, wavelet, wear, welt, whip, whip up, whirl, whisk, wind, winnow, work up, worry, wrinkle, yeastiness

ROGET THESAURUS

ruffle

Disorder

VB be disorderly, ferment, play at cross-purposes, put out of order, derange, ravel, ruffle, rumple.

Derangement

VB derange, disarrange, misarrange, displace, misplace, mislay, discompose, disorder, deorganize, discombobulate, disorganize, embroil, unsettle, disturb, confuse, trouble, perturb, jumble, tumble, shuffle, randomize, huddle, muddle, toss, hustle, fumble, riot, bring into disorder, put into disorder, throw into disorder, muss, break the ranks, disconcert, convulse, break in upon, unhinge, dislocate, put out of joint, throw out of gear, turn topsy-turvy, bedevil, complicate, involve, perplex, confound, imbrangle, embrangle, tangle, entangle, ravel, tousle, towzle, dishevel, ruffle, rumple, litter, scatter, mix, rearrange.

Feeling

N feeling, suffering, endurance, tolerance, sufferance, supportance, experience, response, sympathy, impression, inspiration, affection, sensation, emotion, pathos, deep sense, warmth, glow, unction, gusto, vehemence, fervor, fervency, heartiness, cordiality, earnestness, eagerness, empressement, gush, ardor, zeal, passion, enthusiasm, verve, furore, fanaticism, excitation of feeling, fullness of the heart, passion, ecstasy, blush, suffusion, flush, hectic, tingling, thrill, turn, shock, agitation, quiver, heaving, flutter, flurry, fluster, twitter, tremor, throb, throbbing, pulsation, palpitation, panting, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry of spirits, pother, stew, ferment, state of excitement, feeling, sentient, sensuous, sensorial, sensory, emotive, emotional, of feeling, with feeling, warm, quick, lively, smart, strong, sharp, acute, cutting, piercing, incisive, keen, keen as a razor, trenchant, pungent, racy, piquant, poignant, caustic, impressive, deep, profound, indelible, deep felt, home felt, heartfelt, swelling, soul-stirring, deep-mouthed, heart-expanding, electric, thrilling, rapturous, ecstatic, earnest, wistful, eager, breathless, fervent, fervid, gushing, passionate, warm-hearted, hearty, cordial, sincere, zealous, enthusiastic, glowing, ardent, burning, red-hot, fiery, flaming, boiling over, pervading, penetrating, absorbing, rabid, raving, feverish, fanatical, hysterical, impetuous, impressed with, moved with, touched with, affected with, penetrated with, seized with, imbued with, devoured by, wrought up, struck all of a heap, rapt, in a quiver, enraptured, heart and soul, from the bottom of one's heart, ab imo pectore, at heart, con amore, heartily, devoutly, over head and ears, head over heels, the heart big, the heart full, the heart swelling, the heart beating, the heart pulsating, the heart throbbing, the heart thumping, the heart beating high, the heart melting, the heart overflowing, the heart bursting, the heart breaking, the heart goes out, a heart as big as all outdoors (sympathy).

Excitation

VB excite, affect, touch, move, impress, strike, interest, animate, inspire, impassion, smite, infect, stir the blood, fire the blood, warm the blood, set astir, wake, awake, awaken, call forth, evoke, provoke, raise up, summon up, call up, wake up, blow up, get up, light up, raise, get up the steam, rouse, arouse, stir, fire, kindle, enkindle, apply the torch, set on fire, inflame, stimulate, exsuscitate, inspirit, spirit up, stir up, work up, pique, infuse life into, give new life to, bring new blood, introduce new blood, quicken, sharpen, whet, work upon, hurry on, give a fillip, put on one's mettle, fan the fire, fan the flame, blow the coals, stir the embers, fan into a flame, foster, heat, warm, foment, raise to a fever heat, keep up, keep the pot boiling, revive, rekindle, rake up, rip up, stir the feelings, play on the feelings, come home to the feelings, touch a string, touch a chord, touch the soul, touch the heart, go to one's heart, penetrate, pierce, go through one, touch to the quick, possess the soul, pervade the soul, penetrate the soul, imbrue the soul, absorb the soul, affect the soul, disturb the soul, absorb, rivet the attention, sink into the mind, sink into the heart, prey on the mind, distract, intoxicate, overwhelm, overpower, bouleverser, upset, turn one's head, fascinate, enrapture, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, shake, disturb, startle, shock, stagger, give one a shock, give one a turn, strike all of a heap, stun, astound, electrify, galvanize, petrify, irritate, sting, cut to the heart, cut to the quick, try one's temper, fool to the top of one's bent, pique, infuriate, madden, make one's blood boil, lash into fury, be excited, flush up, flare up, catch the infection, thrill, mantle, work oneself up, seethe, boil, simmer, foam, fume, flame, rage, rave, run mad.

Excitability

N excitability, impetuosity, vehemence, boisterousness, turbulence, impatience, intolerance, nonendurance, irritability, itching, wincing, disquiet, disquietude, restlessness, fidgets, fidgetiness, agitation, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry, fuss, flurry, fluster, flutter, pother, stew, ferment, whirl, buck fever, hurry-skurry, thrill, state of excitement, fever of excitement, transport, passion, excitement, flush, heat, fever, heat, fire, flame, fume, blood boiling, tumult, effervescence, ebullition, boiling over, whiff, gust, story, tempest, scene, breaking out, burst, fit, paroxysm, explosion, outbreak, outburst, agony, violence, fierceness, rage, fury, furor, furore, desperation, madness, distraction, raving, delirium, phrensy, frenzy, hysterics, intoxication, tearing passion, raging passion, anger, fascination, infatuation, fanaticism, Quixotism, Quixotry, tete montee, excitable, easily excited, in an excitable state, high-strung, irritable, impatient, intolerant, feverish, febrile, hysterical, delirious, mad, moody, maggoty- headed, unquiet, mercurial, electric, galvanic, hasty, hurried, restless, fidgety, fussy, chafing, startlish, mettlesome, high-mettled, skittish, vehement, demonstrative, violent, wild, furious, fierce, fiery, hot-headed, madcap, overzealous, enthusiastic, impassioned, fanatical, rabid, rampant, clamorous, uproarious, turbulent, tempestuous, tumultuary, boisterous, impulsive, impetuous, passionate, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, ungovernable, irrepressible, stanchless, inextinguishable, burning, simmering, volcanic, ready to burst forth, volatile, excited, exciting, Int, pish!, pshaw!, noli me tangere, filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd, maggiore fretta minore atto.

Painfulness

VB cause pain, occasion pain, give pain, bring pain, induce pain, produce pain, create pain, inflict pain, pain, hurt, wound, pinch, prick, gripe, pierce, lancinate, cut, hurt the feelings, wound the feelings, grate upon the feelings, grate upon the nerves, jar upon the feelings, wring the heart, pierce the heart, lacerate the heart, break the heart, rend the heart, make the heart bleed, tear the heart strings, rend the heart strings, draw tears from the eyes, sadden, make unhappy, plunge into sorrow, grieve, fash, afflict, distress, cut up, cut to the heart, displease, annoy, incommode, discompose, trouble, disquiet, faze, feaze, feeze, disturb, cross, perplex, molest, tease, tire, irk, vex, mortify, wherret, worry, plague, bother, pester, bore, pother, harass, harry, badger, heckle, bait, beset, infest, persecute, importune, wring, harrow, torment, torture, bullyrag, put to the rack, put to the question, break on the wheel, rack, scarify, cruciate, crucify, convulse, agonize, barb the dart, plant a dagger in the breast, plant a thorn in one's side, irritate, provoke, sting, nettle, try the patience, pique, fret, rile, tweak the nose, chafe, gall, sting to the quick, wound to the quick, cut to the quick, aggrieve, affront, enchafe, enrage, ruffle, sour the temper, give offense, maltreat, bite, snap at, assail, smite, sicken, disgust, revolt, nauseate, disenchant, repel, offend, shock, stink in the nostrils, go against the stomach, turn the stomach, make one sick, set the teeth on edge, go against the grain, grate on the ear, stick in one's throat, stick in one's gizzard, rankle, gnaw, corrode, horrify, appal, appall, freeze the blood, make the flesh creep, make the hair stand on end, make the blood curdle, make the blood run cold, make one shudder, haunt the memory, weigh on the heart, prey on the heart, weigh on the mind, prey on the mind, weigh on the spirits, prey on the spirits, bring one's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, add a nail to one's coffin.

Resentment

VB resent, take amiss, take ill, take to heart, take offense, take umbrage, take huff, take exception, take in ill part, take in bad part, take in dudgeon, ne pas entendre raillerie, breathe revenge, cut up rough, fly into a rage, fall into a rage, get into a rage, fly into a passion, bridle up, bristle up, froth up, fire up, flare up, open the vials of one's wrath, pour out the vials of one's wrath, pout, knit the brow, frown, scowl, lower, snarl, growl, gnarl, gnash, snap, redden, color, look black, look black as thunder, look daggers, bite one's thumb, show one's teeth, grind one's teeth, champ the bit, champ at the bit, chafe, mantle, fume, kindle, fly out, take fire, boil, boil over, boil with indignation, boil with rage, rage, storm, foam, vent one's rage, vent one's spleen, lose one's temper, stand on one's hind legs, stamp the foot, stamp with rage, quiver with rage, swell with rage, foam with rage, burst with anger, raise Cain, have a fling at, bear malice, cause anger, raise anger, affront, offend, give offense, give umbrage, anger, hurt the feelings, insult, discompose, fret, ruffle, nettle, huff, pique, excite, irritate, stir the blood, stir up bile, sting, sting to the quick, rile, provoke, chafe, wound, incense, inflame, enrage, aggravate, add fuel to the flame, fan into a flame, widen the breach, envenom, embitter, exasperate, infuriate, kindle wrath, stick in one's gizzard, rankle, hit on the raw, rub on the raw, sting on the raw, strike on the raw, put out of countenance, put out of humor, put one's monkey up, put one's back up, raise one's gorge, raise one's dander, raise one's choler, work up into a passion, make one's blood boil, make the ears tingle, throw, into a ferment, madden, drive one mad, lash into fury, lash into madness, fool to the top of one's bent, set by the ears, bring a hornet's nest about one's ears.

Roughness

VB be rough, go against the grain, render-rough, roughen, ruffle, crisp, crumple, corrugate, set on edge, stroke the wrong way, rumple.

Fold

N fold, plicature, plait, pleat, ply, crease, tuck, gather, flexion, flexure, joint, elbow, double, doubling, duplicature, gather, wrinkle, rimple, crinkle, crankle, crumple, rumple, rivel, ruck, ruffle, dog's ear, corrugation, frounce, flounce, lapel, pucker, crow's feet, plication, folded, fluted, pleated.

VB fold, double, plicate, plait, crease, wrinkle, crinkle, crankle, curl, cockle up, cocker, rimple, rumple, flute, frizzle, frounce, rivel, twill, corrugate, ruffle, crimple, crumple, pucker, turn down, double down, down under, tuck, ruck, hem, gather.