noun / verb
ripple
RIP-uhl/ˈrɪpl/
A small wave spreading over a surface.
Small concentric ripples spread across the pond's still surface.
Etymology
Middle English riplen meant to crease or wrinkle; the verb later described a ruffled surface. The noun names the small waves that give water that appearance, while deeper ancestry remains obscure.
In context
and there's a very small ripple of water around her arm as it enters, as it plunges into the water
More examples
- A light breeze ripples the water beside the dock.
- The pond rippled when a leaf landed on its surface.
- The announcement sends a ripple of excitement through the crowd.
Forms
ripple · ripples · rippled · rippling
Similar words
- wave
- Wave is broader and can describe much larger water movements.
- undulation
- Undulation emphasizes a smooth rise and fall, not outward spreading.