ramp

1 [ramp]
noun
1.
a sloping surface connecting two levels; incline.
2.
a short concave slope or bend, as one connecting the higher and lower parts of a staircase railing at a landing.
3.
any extensive sloping walk or passageway.
4.
the act of ramping.
5.
Also called boarding ramp. a movable staircase for entering or leaving a cabin door of an airplane.
6.
Also called parking ramp. apron ( def 6 ).
verb (used without object)
7.
(of animals) to stand or move with the forelegs or arms raised, as in animosity or excitement.
8.
(of a lion or other large quadruped represented on a coat of arms) to rise or stand on the hind legs.
9.
to rear as if to spring.
10.
to leap or dash with fury (often followed by about ).
11.
to act violently; rage; storm: ramping and raging in a great fury.
00:10
Ramp is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
chat, to converse
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
verb (used with object)
12.
to provide with a ramp or ramps: Entrances will be ramped to accommodate those in wheelchairs.
13.
ramp along, Nautical. to sail on a tack with all sails filled.

Origin:
1350–1400; (v.) Middle English rampen < Old French ramper to creep, crawl, climb; (noun) < French rampe, derivative of ramper

ramp·ing·ly, adverb
un·ramped, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

ramp

2 [ramp]
noun Usually, ramps.
a wild onion, Allium tricoccum, of the amaryllis family, of eastern North America, having flat leaves and rounded clusters of whitish flowers; eaten raw or used as a flavoring in cooked foods.
Also called wild leek.


Origin:
1530–40; back formation from ramps ramson, variant (with intrusive p) of rams, earlier rammys, orig. the singular of ramson

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
ramp (ræmp) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a sloping floor, path, etc, that joins two surfaces at different levels
2.  a movable stairway by which passengers enter and leave an aircraft
3.  the act of ramping
4.  slang (Brit) a swindle, esp one involving exorbitant prices
5.  another name for sleeping policeman
 
vb
6.  (intr; often foll by about or around) (esp of animals) to rush around in a wild excited manner
7.  to act in a violent or threatening manner, as when angry (esp in the phrase ramp and rage)
8.  (tr) finance to buy (a security) in the market with the object of raising its price and enhancing the image of the company behind it for financial gain
 
[C18 (n): from C13 rampe, from Old French ramper to crawl or rear, probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German ramp cramp]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

ramp
1778, "slope," from Fr. rampe, back-formation from O.Fr. verb ramper "to climb, creep" (12c.), perhaps from Frank. *rampon "to contract oneself" (cf. O.H.G. rimpfan "to wrinkle," O.E. hrimpan "to fold, wrinkle"
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
RAMP
Rural Abandoned Mine Program
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
It is sequestered inside one of the arched masonry structures under the
  bridge's main entrance ramp.
As the music gathers pace, she sets off, sashaying toward the cameras that
  await her at the end of the ramp.
Flapping while running up a ramp takes far less energy than flight at the same
  angle.
The country could well have afforded to ramp up domestic investment in key
  areas.
Images for ramp
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