rig

[ rig ]
See synonyms for: rigriggedrigging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),rigged, rig·ging.
  1. Chiefly Nautical.

    • to put in proper order for working or use.

    • to fit (a ship, mast, etc.) with the necessary shrouds, stays, etc.

    • to fit (shrouds, stays, sails, etc.) to the mast, yard, or the like.

  2. to manipulate fraudulently: Two leading companies in the industry were fined for rigging prices.

  1. to assemble, install, or prepare (often followed by up).

  2. to furnish or provide with equipment, clothing, etc.; fit (usually followed by out or up): The ground crew rigged us out in leather helmets and bomber jackets.

noun
  1. the arrangement of the masts, spars, sails, etc., on a boat or ship.

  2. apparatus for some purpose; equipment; outfit; gear: Bring your rod and reel and all the rest of your fishing rig.This other PC over here is my main gaming rig.

  1. Also called drill rig. the equipment used in drilling an oil well.

  2. any combination trucking unit in which vehicles are hooked together, as a tractor-trailer.

  3. any kind of truck.

  4. a carriage, buckboard, sulky, or wagon together with the horse or horses that draw it.

  5. Informal. costume or dress, especially when odd or conspicuous, or when designated for a particular purpose: He looks quite nifty in a butler's rig.

Verb Phrases
  1. rig down, Nautical. to place in an inactive state, stowing all lines, tackles, and other removable parts.

  2. rig up, to equip or set up for use.

Origin of rig

1
First recorded in 1480–90; 1930–35 for def. 2; probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish rigg (noun), rigga (verb)

Other words from rig

  • outrig, verb (used with object), out·rigged, out·rig·ging.
  • o·ver·rigged, adjective
  • un·der·rigged, adjective

Words Nearby rig

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rig in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rig (1 of 2)

rig1

/ (rɪɡ) /


verbrigs, rigging or rigged (tr)
  1. nautical to equip (a vessel, mast, etc) with (sails, rigging, etc)

  2. nautical to set up or prepare ready for use

  1. to put the components of (an aircraft, etc) into their correct positions

  2. to manipulate in a fraudulent manner, esp for profit: to rig prices; to rig an election

noun
  1. nautical the distinctive arrangement of the sails, masts, and other spars of a vessel

  2. the installation used in drilling for and exploiting natural oil and gas deposits: an oil rig In full: drilling rig

  1. apparatus or equipment; gear

  2. an amateur radio operator's transmitting and receiving set

  3. US and Canadian a carriage together with one or more horses

  4. mainly US and Canadian an articulated lorry

Origin of rig

1
C15: from Scandinavian; related to Norwegian rigga to wrap

British Dictionary definitions for rig (2 of 2)

rig2

/ (rɪɡ) /


noun
  1. Scot and Northern English dialect a ridge or raised strip of unploughed land in a ploughed field

Origin of rig

2
a variant of ridge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012