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riprap

To form a riprap in or upon.

ˈɹɪpɹap168 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🎤 Black culture & AAVE
3 definitions
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US
#2·Apr 27, 2026US

An underwater bank seen as a danger to shipping.

Origin: Apparently a reduplication (with vowel dissimilation) of blow, stroke. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"riprap" means: An underwater bank seen as a danger to shipping.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"riprap" means: An underwater bank seen as a danger to shipping.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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US
#3·Apr 27, 2026US

(chiefly, _, North America) Rocks or other materials used to shore up an embankment, deter or prevent erosion, guide shipping, or serve as a temporary mooring.

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US
#1·Apr 27, 2026US

To form a riprap in or upon.

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Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.

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