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| ruf·fle [ rúff'l ] |
verb (past and past participle ruf·fled, present participle ruf·fling, 3rd person present singular ruf·fles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb make feathers erect: to erect feathers, e.g. in defense, as a display, or for warmth or grooming
(
refers to birds
)
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2. transitive and intransitive verb make waves in surface: to disturb or ripple something, especially a surface, or become disturbed or rippled
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3. transitive and intransitive verb annoy somebody: to bother or fluster somebody, or become bothered or flustered
  gets ruffled so easily
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4. transitive verb gather or pleat fabric: to draw a strip of material into pleats or gathers to use as trim
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5. transitive verb glance quickly through something: to flip rapidly through the pages of a book or magazine
(
dated
)
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6. transitive verb shuffle cards: to shuffle playing cards
(
dated
)
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noun (plural ruf·fles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. wave in surface: a disturbance or ripple in something, especially a surface
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2. irritating thing: a source of irritation or annoyance
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3. trim of pleated fabric: a strip of closely pleated or gathered material used as trim
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4. zoology
Same as ruff1 (sense 2)
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| [14th century. < ?] |
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| ruf·fled adjective |
| ruf·fly adjective |
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