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11 dictionary results for: ripe

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ripe

[rahyp] Pronunciation Key

–adjective, rip·er, rip·est.

1.	having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use, as grain or fruit; completely matured.

2.	resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness: ripe, red lips.

3.	advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use, as cheese or beer.

4.	fully grown or developed, as animals when ready to be killed and used for food.

5.	arrived at the highest or a high point of development or excellence; mature.

6.	of mature judgment or knowledge: ripe scholars; a ripe mind.

7.	characterized by full development of body or mind: of ripe years.

8.	(of time) advanced: a ripe old age.

9.	(of ideas, plans, etc.) ready for action, execution, etc.

10.	(of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something: He was ripe for a change in jobs.

11.	fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious: The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.

12.	ready for some operation or process: a ripe abscess.

13.	Archaic. drunk: reeling ripe.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE rīpe; c. D rijp, G reif; akin to OE ripan to reap

]

—Related forms

ripely, adverb

ripeness, noun

—Synonyms 1. grown, aged. Ripe, mature, mellow refer to that which is no longer in an incomplete stage of development. Ripe implies completed growth beyond which the processes of decay begin: a ripe banana. Mature means fully grown and developed as used of living organisms: a mature animal; a mature tree. Mellow denotes complete absence of sharpness or asperity, with sweetness and richness such as characterize ripeness or age: mellow fruit; mellow flavor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ripe (rīp) Pronunciation Key
adj. rip·er, rip·est

Fully developed; mature: ripe peaches.
Resembling matured fruit, as in fullness.
Sufficiently advanced in preparation or aging to be used or eaten: ripe cheese.
Thoroughly matured, as by study or experience; seasoned: ripe judgment.
Advanced in years: the ripe age of 90.
Fully prepared to do or undergo something; ready: "By 1965 the republic was ripe for a coup" (Alex Shoumatoff).
Sufficiently advanced; opportune: The time is ripe for great societal changes.
Exhibiting overtones of or references to sex; scatological: "The language on the stage was riper than anything I have heard in a lifetime of newspaper work" (John Hughes).
Emitting a foul odor, especially body odor.

[Middle English, from Old English rīpe.]

ripe'ly adv., ripe'ness n.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ripe

O.E. ripe "ready for reaping, fit for eating," from W.Gmc. *ripijaz (cf. M.Du. ripe, Du. rijp, O.H.G. rifi, Ger. reif); related to O.E. repan "to reap" (see reap). The verb ripen "to grow ripe" is from 1561, replacing earlier verb ripe, from late O.E. ripian, from the adj.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

ripe
adjective
1.	fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used; "ripe peaches"; "full-bodied mature wines" [ant: green]
2.	fully prepared or eager; "the colonists were ripe for revolution"
3.	most suitable or right for a particular purpose; "a good time to plant tomatoes"; "the right time to act"; "the time is ripe for great sociological changes" [syn: good]
4.	at the highest point of development especially in judgment or knowledge; "a ripe mind"
5.	far along in time; "a man of advanced age"; "advanced in years"; "a ripe old age"; "the ripe age of 90" [syn: advanced]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

ripe

In addition to the idiom beginning with ripe, also see time is ripe.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ripe
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or being a claim for relief that is ready for judicial resolution because the injury is certain to occur and is not merely hypothetical or speculative —compare MOOT
2 : ready and appropriate for disclosure because reasonably determined to be valid and not required to be kept secret for business reasons —used of corporate information —ripe·ness noun

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Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

RIPE
Réseaux IP Européens

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ripe

Ripe\ (r[imac]p), n. [L. ripa.] The bank of a river. [Obs.]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ripe

Ripe\ (r[imac]p), a. [Compar. Riper (-[~e]r); superl. Ripest.] [AS. r[=i]pe; akin to OS. r[=i]pi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. r[=i]ft; cf. AS. r[=i]p harvest, r[=i]pan to reap. Cf. Reap.]

1. Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; -- said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain.

So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy mother's lap. --Milton.

2. Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine.

3. Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate. "Ripe courage." --Chaucer.

He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. --Shak.

4. Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; -- said of sores, tumors, etc.

5. Ready for action or effect; prepared.

While things were just ripe for a war. --Addison.

I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies. --Burke.

6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.

Those happy smilets, That played on her ripe lip. --Shak.

7. Intoxicated. [Obs.] "Reeling ripe." --Shak.