Definition of "riot"

riot

/ˈɹaɪ.ət/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural riots
1. A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property.
2. (figurative) A wide and unconstrained variety.
  Quotations
  The human world is contracting not only prospectively but to the backward-probing eye of culture-history. Nevertheless we are as yet far from able to reduce the riot of spoken languages to a small number of “stocks.”
  1921, Edward Sapir, chapter VII, in Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech‎
3. (colloquial, uncountable) A humorous or entertaining event or person.
  Quotations
  Check this out! We have to get this! I can't believe all this stuff! This is a total riot!
  1997, Daniel Clowes, “The First Time”, in Ghost World, Jonathan Cape, published 2000, page 34
4. Wanton or unrestrained behavior or emotion.
  Quotations
  For when his head-ſtrong Riot hath no Curbe,
  c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iii], page 93
5. (obsolete) Excessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.
  Quotations
  the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day
  1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […]
verb
third-person singular simple present riots, present participle rioting, simple past and past participle rioted
1. (intransitive) To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.
  Quotations
  Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, / Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law.
  1595, Samuel Daniel, “(please specify the folio number)”, in The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, London: […] P[eter] Short for Simon Waterson
  1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717
  Think of the insults, wrongs, and contumelies, / Ye bear from your proud lords—that your hard toil / Manures their fertile fields—you plow the earth, / You sow the corn, you reap the ripen'd harvest,— / They riot on the produce!— […]
  1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: […] [J. M‘Creery] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, Act I, page 21
3. (transitive) To cause to riot; to throw into a tumult.
4. (transitive) To annoy.

Definition of "riot"

riot

noun

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verb

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