ət 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.
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.
00:10
Riot
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to flee; abscond: |
verb (used with object)
Idioms 13.
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; (noun) Middle English: debauchery, revel, violent disturbance < Old French riot(e) debate, dispute, quarrel, derivative of rihoter, riot(t)er to quarrel; (v.) Middle English rioten < Old French rihoter, riot(t)er
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English: debauchery, revel, violent disturbance < Old French riot(e) debate, dispute, quarrel, derivative of rihoter, riot(t)er to quarrel; (v.) Middle English rioten < Old French rihoter, riot(t)er
Related forms
ri·ot·er, noun
an·ti·ri·ot, adjective, noun
coun·ter·ri·ot·er, noun
non·ri·ot·er, noun
non·ri·ot·ing, adjective
Synonyms
1. outbreak, brawl, fray, melee. 3. uproar, tumult, disturbance. 9. brawl, fight. 10. carouse.
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. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To riot
Collins
World English Dictionary
riot (ˈraɪət) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. a disturbance made by an unruly mob or (in law) three or more persons; tumult or uproar |
| b. (as modifier): a riot gun; riot police; a riot shield | |
| 2. | boisterous activity; unrestrained revelry |
| 3. | an occasion of boisterous merriment |
| 4. | slang a person who occasions boisterous merriment |
| 5. | a dazzling or arresting display: a riot of colour |
| 6. | hunting the indiscriminate following of any scent by hounds |
| 7. | archaic wanton lasciviousness |
| 8. | run riot |
| a. to behave wildly and without restraint | |
| b. (of plants) to grow rankly or profusely | |
| —vb (foll by away) | |
| 9. | (intr) to take part in a riot |
| 10. | (intr) to indulge in unrestrained revelry or merriment |
| 11. | to spend (time or money) in wanton or loose living: he has rioted away his life |
| [C13: from Old French riote dispute, from ruihoter to quarrel, probably from ruir to make a commotion, from Latin rugīre to roar] | |
| 'rioter | |
| —n | |
| 'rioting | |
| —n | |
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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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
riot
early 13c., "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 late 14c. Run riot is first recorded 1520s, 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 alternative form riot grrl first recorded 1992.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
riot definition[ˈrɑɪət]
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
riot
in criminal law, a violent offense against public order involving three or more people. Like an unlawful assembly, a riot involves a gathering of persons for an illegal purpose. In contrast to an unlawful assembly, however, a riot involves violence. The concept is obviously broad and embraces a wide range of group conduct, from a bloody clash between picketers and strikebreakers to the behaviour of a street-corner gang
Learn more about riot with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
Three days earlier, riot police had broken up the first pockets of protest.
Her outraged widower spurred a protest that escalated into a riot.
Thousands of police officers have put away riot gear and returned to routine patrols.
The gang of colorful misfits start a riot at a street fair and eat all the concession food.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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