ripple
n. countablen. a small wave on the surface of water. It can also describe a feeling or effect that spreads slowly through a group of people.
n. a small wave or series of waves on the surface of a liquid, typically caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it. Often used figuratively to describe a spreading effect or sensation.
The pebble made a small ripple in the pond.
The news of the merger sent a ripple of excitement through the entire office.
A sudden gust of wind created a delicate ripple across the otherwise glassy surface of the mountain lake, distorting the reflection of the pines.
From an alteration of rimple.
From Middle English *ripelen, repulen, equivalent to rip + -le (frequentative suffix).
Compare German Low German Repel, Dutch repel, German Riffel, extended forms (with instrumental or diminutive -le) of Low German Repe (“ripple”), Dutch repe (“ripple”). Compare also Dutch repen, German reffen, Swedish repa (“to beat; ripple”). The verb is from Middle English ripplen, rypelen. Compare Low German repelen, Dutch repelen, German riffeln.
Dialectal form of thripple.
Often used with the preposition 'of' when describing an emotional effect ('a ripple of laughter').