riddle
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a question or statement that is difficult to understand and has a clever or funny answer.
a verbal puzzle or enigmatic statement requiring ingenuity to solve.
Simple“The children spent the afternoon asking each other riddles from a book.”
In context“The sphinx of legend would only allow travellers to pass if they could solve a complex riddle about the stages of human life.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person or thing that is very difficult to explain or understand.
a person, situation, or thing that is mysterious or puzzling.
Simple“How the ancient stones were moved remains a riddle to this day.”
In context“The sudden disappearance of the colony remains a historical riddle that continues to baffle archaeologists and researchers alike.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a large tool with a wire mesh used for separating stones from soil or grain from husks.
a coarse sieve used for sifting large quantities of material such as gravel, grain, or coal.
Simple“The gardener used a riddle to remove the large rocks from the flower bed.”
In context“Before the grain could be milled, it was passed through a heavy-duty riddle to ensure all debris and chaff were removed.”
Synonyms