riot
♦ riot /r'aɪət/ (riots rioting rioted)
1 [N-COUNT]
When there is a riot, a crowd of people behave violently in a public place, for example they fight, throw stones, or damage buildings and vehicles.
Twelve inmates have been killed during a riot at the prison.
2 [VERB] V
If people riot, they behave violently in a public place.
Last year 600 inmates rioted, starting fires and building barricades...
● rioter [N-COUNT]
The militia dispersed the rioters.
● rioting [N-UNCOUNT]
At least fifteen people are now known to have died in three days of rioting.
3 [N-SING] a N of n
If you say that there is a riot of something pleasant such as colour, you mean that there is a large amount of various types of it.
All the cacti were in flower, so that the desert was a riot of colour...
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority reads you the riot act, they tell you that you will be punished unless you start behaving properly.
I'm glad you read the riot act to Billy. He's still a kid and still needs to be told what to do.
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If people run riot, they behave in a wild and uncontrolled manner.
Rampaging prisoners ran riot through Strangeways jail.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something such as your imagination runs riot, it is not limited or controlled, and produces ideas that are new or exciting, rather than sensible.
A conservatory offers the perfect excuse to let your imagination run riot.race riot (race riots)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Race riots are violent fights between people of different races living in the same community.riot gear
[N-UNCOUNT]
Riot gear is the special clothing and equipment worn by police officers or soldiers when they have to deal with a riot.riot po|lice
[N-SING-COLL]
The riot police is the section of the police force that is trained to deal with people who cause trouble in public places.
After about 10 minutes the riot police arrived.riot shield (riot shields)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Riot shields are pieces of equipment made of transparent plastic which are used by the police to protect themselves against angry crowds.
1 [N-COUNT]
When there is a riot, a crowd of people behave violently in a public place, for example they fight, throw stones, or damage buildings and vehicles.
Twelve inmates have been killed during a riot at the prison.
2 [VERB] V
If people riot, they behave violently in a public place.
Last year 600 inmates rioted, starting fires and building barricades...
● rioter [N-COUNT]
The militia dispersed the rioters.
● rioting [N-UNCOUNT]
At least fifteen people are now known to have died in three days of rioting.
3 [N-SING] a N of n
If you say that there is a riot of something pleasant such as colour, you mean that there is a large amount of various types of it.
All the cacti were in flower, so that the desert was a riot of colour...
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority reads you the riot act, they tell you that you will be punished unless you start behaving properly.
I'm glad you read the riot act to Billy. He's still a kid and still needs to be told what to do.
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If people run riot, they behave in a wild and uncontrolled manner.
Rampaging prisoners ran riot through Strangeways jail.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something such as your imagination runs riot, it is not limited or controlled, and produces ideas that are new or exciting, rather than sensible.
A conservatory offers the perfect excuse to let your imagination run riot.race riot (race riots)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Race riots are violent fights between people of different races living in the same community.riot gear
[N-UNCOUNT]
Riot gear is the special clothing and equipment worn by police officers or soldiers when they have to deal with a riot.riot po|lice
[N-SING-COLL]
The riot police is the section of the police force that is trained to deal with people who cause trouble in public places.
After about 10 minutes the riot police arrived.riot shield (riot shields)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Riot shields are pieces of equipment made of transparent plastic which are used by the police to protect themselves against angry crowds.