n.
- a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
▸archaic rowdy behaviour.
- an impressively varied or lavish display:
a riot of colour.
-
(a riot)
informal a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing.
v.
- take part in a riot.
- behave in an unrestrained way.
- archaic act in a dissipated way.
Phrase
- read someone the Riot Act
give someone a severe warning or reprimand.
[from the name of a former act partly read out to disperse rioters.]
- run riot
- behave or be displayed in a violent and unrestrained way.
- proliferate or spread uncontrollably.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. riote ‘debate’, from rioter ‘to quarrel’, of unknown ultimate origin.