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riot away

 - 4 dictionary results

ri⋅ot

[rahy-uht]
–noun
1. a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group, a government policy, etc., in the streets.
2. Law. a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes.
3. violent or wild disorder or confusion.
4. a brilliant display: a riot of color.
5. something or someone hilariously funny: You were a riot at the party.
6. unrestrained revelry.
7. an unbridled outbreak, as of emotions, passions, etc.
8. Archaic. loose, wanton living; profligacy.
–verb (used without object)
9. to take part in a riot or disorderly public outbreak.
10. to live in a loose or wanton manner; indulge in unrestrained revelry: Many of the Roman emperors rioted notoriously.
11. Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to pursue an animal other than the intended quarry.
12. to indulge unrestrainedly; run riot.
–verb (used with object)
13. to spend (money, time, etc.) in riotous living (usually fol. by away or out).
14. run riot,
a. to act without control or restraint: The neighbors let their children run riot.
b. to grow luxuriantly or abundantly: Crab grass is running riot in our lawn.

Origin:
1175–1225; (n.) ME: debauchery, revel, violent disturbance < OF riot(e) debate, dispute, quarrel, deriv. of rihoter, riot(t)er to quarrel; (v.) ME rioten < OF rihoter, riot(t)er


ri⋅ot⋅er, noun


1. outbreak, brawl, fray, melee. 3. uproar, tumult, disturbance. 9. brawl, fight. 10. carouse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Slang Dictionary
riot [ˈrɑɪət]

  1. n.
    someone or something entertaining or funny. : Tom was a riot last night.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

riot  (n.)
c.1225, "debauchery, extravagance, wanton living," from O.Fr. riote (masc. riot) "dispute, quarrel," perhaps from Prov. riota, of uncertain origin. Meaning "public disturbance" is first recorded 1390. Meaning "something spectacularly successful" first recorded 1909 in theater slang. The verb is attested from 1386. Run riot is first recorded 1523, a metaphoric extension from M.E. meaning in ref. to hounds following the wrong scent. The Riot Act, part of which must be read to a mob before active measures can be taken, was passed 1714 (1 Geo. I, st.2, c.5). Riot girl and alternate form riot grrl first recorded 1992.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: riot
Function: intransitive verb
: to create or engage in a riot —ri·ot·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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