Word
rig
US/ˈɹɪɡ/
UK/ɹˈɪɡ/
Definitions
01industrial equipment
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large structure or piece of equipment used for a specific job, like drilling for oil.
n. a large, complex apparatus or structure designed for a specific industrial purpose, particularly for drilling oil or gas.
“The workers spent months living on the oil rig in the middle of the ocean.”
“Engineers were dispatched to the offshore rig to repair a critical failure in the primary drilling mechanism before the storm arrived.”
02large truck
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a very large truck, especially one that pulls a long trailer.
n. a large tractor-trailer or semi-truck used for long-haul transport.
“The highway was full of big rigs carrying goods across the country.”
“The driver maneuvered the massive rig into the narrow loading dock with impressive precision despite the heavy rain.”
Synonyms
03computer or gear
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Informal · Slang
n. a set of equipment for a hobby, like a powerful computer for gaming or a musician's gear.
n. a customized set of equipment or hardware, frequently used in gaming, music production, or radio communications.
“He spent thousands of dollars building a high-end gaming rig with the latest graphics card.”
“The guitarist spent an hour before the show fine-tuning his touring rig to ensure the sound was perfect for the venue.”
04sailing equipment
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Nautical Technical
n. the ropes and sails on a ship.
n. the arrangement of masts, sails, and rigging on a sailing vessel.
“The captain checked the ship's rig to make sure it could handle the strong winds.”
“The schooner featured a complex rig that required a highly disciplined crew to manage during sudden squalls.”
05to fix dishonestly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to arrange the result of something, like an election or a game, in a dishonest way.
v. to manipulate or manage a process, such as an election or competition, fraudulently to produce a desired result.
“People protested because they believed the election was rigged.”
“The investigation revealed that several high-ranking officials had conspired to rig the bidding process for the new stadium contract.”
Synonyms
06to set up quickly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to build or fix something quickly using whatever materials you have.
v. to construct or assemble something in a makeshift or hurried manner, often using available materials.
“We managed to rig up a temporary shelter using a plastic sheet and some rope.”
“The technicians had to rig up a bypass system overnight to keep the server room cool after the main air conditioning failed.”
Usage
often used with 'up' as a phrasal verb
Synonyms
Etymology
From Early Modern English rygge, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Norwegian rigge (“to bind up; wrap around; rig; equip”), Swedish dialectal rigga (“to rig a horse”), Faroese rigga (“to rig; to equip and fit; to make s.th. function”). Possibly from Proto-Germanic rik- (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European rign-, reyg- (“to bind”); or related to Old English wrīhan, wrīohan, wrēohan, wrēon (“to bind; wrap up; cover”). See also wry (“to cover; clothe; dress; hide”).
See ridge.
Compare wriggle.
From ring (“algebraic structure”), omitting the letter n to suggest the lack of negatives. Compare rng (“structure like a ring but lacking a multiplicative identity”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
01. fully rigged
02. rig out
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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