ridge

1 of 2

noun

ˈrij 

1

: an elevated body part or structure

2

a

: a range of hills or mountains

b

: an elongate elevation on an ocean bottom

3

: an elongate crest or a linear series of crests

4

: a raised strip (as of plowed ground)

5

: the line of intersection at the top between the opposite slopes or sides of a roof

ridged

ˈrijd 

adjective

ridge

2 of 2

verb

ridged; ridging

transitive verb

: to form into a ridge

intransitive verb

: to extend in ridges

Synonyms

Noun

• crest

Examples of ridge in a Sentence

Noun

We hiked along the ridge.

the ridges on the sole of a boot

the ridge of a roof

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This ridge along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean stretches 10,000 miles from the Arctic to the southern tip of Africa and is part of the longest mountain range on Earth. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Aug. 2024

The sheep trail ended at a steep-sided saddle in the ridge that dropped nearly 1,000 feet. —Jim Carmichel, Outdoor Life, 25 July 2024

Verb

The rocks formed during the Archean and persisted until they were squeezed out along the ocean ridges more than 2.5 billion years later. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024

The atmospheric setup here is fairly complex, with the region just on the edge of high pressure ridging that will help keep skies clear. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rigge, from Old English hrycg; akin to Old High German hrukki ridge, back

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing ridge

• alveolar ridge
• brow ridge
• mid-ocean ridge

Kids Definition

ridge

1 of 2 noun

ˈrij 

: a raised or elevated part or area: as

a

: a range of hills or mountains

b

: the line made where two sloping surfaces come together

the ridge of a roof

ridged

ˈrijd 

adjective

ridge

2 of 2 verb

ridged; ridging

: to form into or extend in ridges

Medical Definition

ridge

noun

ˈrij 

: a raised or elevated part and especially a body part: as

a

: the projecting or elevated part of the back along the line of the backbone

b

: an elevated body part projecting from a surface