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   Ri·ot

   /ˈrīət/

   

   noun

   • 1. a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd: "riots broke out in the capital" Similar uproarrampagefurortumultcommotionupheavaldisturbancestreet fightmeleerowscufflefracasfrayaffraybrawlfree-for-allviolent disorderviolencemob violencestreet fightingvandalismfrenzymayhemturmoillawlessnessanarchyinformal:wilding
   • ▪ an uproar: "the film's sex scenes caused a riot in Cannes"
   • ▪ an outburst of uncontrolled feelings: "a riot of emotions raged through Frances"
   • ▪ uncontrolled revelry; rowdy behavior: archaic "a young lord leaving the city after a night of riot"
   • 2. an impressively large or varied display of something: "the garden was a riot of color" Similar masssealavish displaysplashextravaganceextravaganzaflourishshowexhibition
   • 3. a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing: informal "everyone thought she was a riot"

   verb

   • 1. take part in a violent public disturbance: "students rioted in Paris"
   • ▪ behave in an unrestrained way: "another set of emotions rioted through him"
   • ▪ act in a dissipated way: "an unrepentant prodigal son, rioting off to far countries"

   Word Origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘dissolute living’): from Old French riote ‘debate’, from rioter ‘to quarrel’, of unknown ultimate origin.

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • O

     1

   • T

     1

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