Ripe

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: en, /ɹaɪp/
• Rhymes: -en, -aɪp

From , rype, from , from , from , *rīpiz, from . Cognate with , , . Related to reap.

Alternative forms

• rype,

Full definition of ripe

Adjective

1. (of fruits, vegetables, seeds etc.) Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature
   ripe grain
   ripe apples
• 1667, John Milton, Paradise LostSo mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop
  Into thy mother's lap.
• 2013, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, Wild Plants to the Rescue, Plant breeding is always a numbers game....The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, …. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe.
2. (of foods) Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow
   ripe cheese
   ripe wine
3. (figuratively) Having attained its full development; mature; perfected
• 1895, Henry James, The Altar of the DeadShe was a feature of that piety, but even at the ripe stage of acquaintance in which they occasionally arranged to meet at a concert or to go together to an exhibition she was not a feature of anything else.
• 1623, William Shakespeare, The Life of King Henry the Eighth, He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one.
4. (archaic) Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge
5. Ready for action or effect; prepared.
• 1988, Queensrÿche, Revolution CallingBut the time is ripe for changes. There's a growing feeling. That taking a chance on a new kind of vision is due
• Addison Italywhile things were just ripe for a war
• Burke Conciliation with AmericaI am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies.
• 1910, Theodore C. Williams, The Aeneid, nor was the doom
  of guilty deed, but of a hapless wight
  to sudden madness stung, ere ripe to die,
  therefore the Queen of Hades had not shorn
  the fair tress from her forehead, nor assigned
  that soul to Stygian dark.
6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
• Shakespeare Lear|IV|iii|passage=Those happy smilets,
  That played on her ripe lip.
• 1981, Daniel Curzon, Human Warmth & Other Stories, He looked back once at the waving hands, the mother's glowing, ripe cheeks.
7. (obsolete) Intoxicated.
• 1611, William Shakespeare, , Act V, Scene 1,Alonso: And Trinculo is reeling-ripe: where should they
  Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them?
  How cam'st thou in this pickle?
8. (law) Of a conflict between parties, having developed to a stage where the conflict may be reviewed by a court of law.
• 2004, Kenneth F. Warren, Administrative Law in the Political System, Problems emerge in judging whether a case is ripe, however, when contested general agency directives are issued that are not aimed at specific parties.
9. Smelly: having a disagreeable odor.
• 2004, Colum McCann, Fishing the Sloe-Black River, Dolores, giving her a bath yesterday, said she was a bit ripe under the armpits.

Antonyms

• unripe

Derived terms

Noun

1. (agriculture) A fruit or vegetable which has ripened.
• 1993, Paul J. Dosal, Doing Business with the Dictators, When he realized that the ripes would not make it back to Selma, Zemurray offered a free bunch of bananas to any telegraph operator who notified local grocers that he was coming through with a shipment of bananas.

Verb

1. To ripen or mature
• 1596-97, William Shakespeare, , Act II Scene 8... he answer'd, "Do not so;
  Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio,
  But stay the very riping of the time;
  ...

From , from .

Noun

1. The bank of a river.

Related terms

• riparian

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To search; to rummage.

Related terms

• rip

Anagrams