riddle

CEFRB2

/ˈɹɪdəl/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A question or problem that is difficult to solve or understand.

  2. 02

    verb

    To fill something with many holes or unwanted things.

Examples

  • I finally penetrated the meaning of the riddle.

  • If he could not answer the riddle, he would be eaten.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˈɹʷɪdəl] ~ [ˈɹʷɪdl̩]
  • [ˈɹʷɪɾəl] ~ [ˈɹʷɪɾl̩]

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.

  2. To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

  3. A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.

More examples

In context

  • Here's a riddle: It's black, and white, and red all over. What is it?

  • You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.

  • Riddle me this.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The smart child quickly solved the tricky blank that her teacher gave her.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English redel, redels, from Old English rǣdels, rǣdelse (“counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle”), from Proto-West Germanic *rādislī (“counsel, conjecture”). Analyzable as rede (“advice”) + -le. Akin to Old English rǣdan (“to read, advise, interpret”). Cognate with Dutch raadsel, German Rätsel.