Library / English Dictionary

RUMPLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become wrinkled or crumpled or creased

Example:

This fabric won't wrinkle

Synonyms:

crease; crinkle; crumple; rumple; wrinkle

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "rumple" is one way to...):

fold; fold up (become folded or folded up)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence examples:

The sheets didn't rumple

These fabrics rumple easily

Sense 2

Meaning:

To gather something into small wrinkles or folds

Example:

She puckered her lips

Synonyms:

cockle; crumple; knit; pucker; rumple

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "rumple" is one way to...):

crease; crinkle; crisp; ruckle; scrunch; scrunch up; wrinkle (make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; 'crisp' is archaic)

Verb group:

draw (contract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They rumple the sheets

Sense 3

Meaning:

Disturb the smoothness of

Example:

ruffle the surface of the water

Synonyms:

mess up; ruffle; ruffle up; rumple

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "rumple" is one way to...):

disarrange (destroy the arrangement or order of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

I soon saw that the intruder had left other traces of his presence besides the rumpled papers.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That, marching him constantly up and down by the collar (as if he had been taking too much laudanum), she, at those times, shook him, rumpled his hair, made light of his linen, stopped his ears as if she confounded them with her own, and otherwise tousled and maltreated him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The children were inconsolable, and Mr. Bhaer's hair stuck straight up all over his head, for he always rumpled it wildly when disturbed in mind.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Jo wasn't ashamed of the great tear that dropped off the end of her nose, and Amy never minded the rumpling of her curls as she hid her face on her mother's shoulder and sobbed out, I am a selfish girl!

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

As everyone exclaimed, and Beth hugged the cropped head tenderly, Jo assumed an indifferent air, which did not deceive anyone a particle, and said, rumpling up the brown bush and trying to look as if she liked it, It doesn't affect the fate of the nation, so don't wail, Beth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

His bushy hair had been cut and smoothly brushed, but didn't stay in order long, for in exciting moments, he rumpled it up in the droll way he used to do, and Jo liked it rampantly erect better than flat, because she thought it gave his fine forehead a Jove-like aspect.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)