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| ri·ot [ r ət ] |
noun (plural ri·ots) |
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| Definition: |
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1. violent disturbance: a public disturbance during which a group of angry people becomes noisy and out of control, often damaging property and acting violently. In law, a riot is typically defined as a group of three or more persons disturbing the peace for private purposes.
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2. great display: a spectacular visual display
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3. something extremely enjoyable: a social occasion, event, or experience that people enjoy in a wild, noisy, and energetic way
(
informal
)
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4. funny person or event: an extremely amusing person or event
(
informal
)
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5. uncontrolled way of life: behavior that shows complete lack of control, especially financially or sexually
(
archaic
)
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intransitive verb (past and past participle ri·ot·ed, present participle ri·ot·ing, 3rd person present singular ri·ots) |
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| Definition: |
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1. cause public disturbance: to get out of control and act in an unruly, violent, and destructive way, especially so as to cause a public disturbance
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2. be wild and self-indulgent: to behave with a complete lack of personal restraint, especially in financial or sexual matters
(
archaic
)
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| [12th century. < Old French, "quarrel" < rioter "to quarrel"] |
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  ri·ot·er noun |
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read (somebody) the riot act to reprimand somebody severely for doing something, often including a threat of punishment if the offending behavior does not stop
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run riot
1. to behave in a wild and uncontrolled way
2. to grow in profusion
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