ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rig

n. · v.
US //ˈɹɪɡ// UK //ɹˈɪɡ// rig
  1. 1 industrial equipment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a large structure or piece of equipment used for a specific job, like drilling for oil.

    a large, complex apparatus or structure designed for a specific industrial purpose, particularly for drilling oil or gas.

    Example

    The workers spent months living on the oil rig in the middle of the ocean.

    Example

    Engineers were dispatched to the offshore rig to repair a critical failure in the primary drilling mechanism before the storm arrived.
  2. 2 large truck (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a very large truck, especially one that pulls a long trailer.

    a large tractor-trailer or semi-truck used for long-haul transport.

    Example

    The highway was full of big rigs carrying goods across the country.

    Example

    The driver maneuvered the massive rig into the narrow loading dock with impressive precision despite the heavy rain.
    • semi
    • tractor trailer
    • eighteen wheeler
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 computer or gear (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang Computing

    a set of equipment for a hobby, like a powerful computer for gaming or a musician's gear.

    a customized set of equipment or hardware, frequently used in gaming, music production, or radio communications.

    Example

    He spent thousands of dollars building a high-end gaming rig with the latest graphics card.

    Example

    The guitarist spent an hour before the show fine-tuning his touring rig to ensure the sound was perfect for the venue.
  2. 4 sailing equipment (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

    the ropes and sails on a ship.

    the arrangement of masts, sails, and rigging on a sailing vessel.

    Example

    The captain checked the ship's rig to make sure it could handle the strong winds.

    Example

    The schooner featured a complex rig that required a highly disciplined crew to manage during sudden squalls.
  3. 5 to fix dishonestly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to arrange the result of something, like an election or a game, in a dishonest way.

    to manipulate or manage a process, such as an election or competition, fraudulently to produce a desired result.

    Example

    People protested because they believed the election was rigged.

    Example

    The investigation revealed that several high-ranking officials had conspired to rig the bidding process for the new stadium contract.
  4. 6 to set up quickly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to build or fix something quickly using whatever materials you have.

    to construct or assemble something in a makeshift or hurried manner, often using available materials.

    Example

    We managed to rig up a temporary shelter using a plastic sheet and some rope.

    Example

    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
Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

See ridge.

Etymology 3

Compare wriggle.

Etymology 4

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”).

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference