RUFFLE UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ruffle up mean? 

• RUFFLE UP (verb)
  The verb RUFFLE UP has 1 sense:

1. disturb the smoothness of

  Familiarity information: RUFFLE UP used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUFFLE UP (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Disturb the smoothness of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

mess up; ruffle; ruffle up; rumple

Context example:

ruffle the surface of the water

Hypernyms (to "ruffle up" is one way to...):

disarrange (destroy the arrangement or order of)

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

You know as well as I that it does make a difference with nearly everyone, so don't ruffle up like a dear, motherly hen, when your chickens get pecked by smarter birds.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)