¦ verb (past rode; past participle ridden)
1. sit on and control the movement of (a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle).
(usu. ride in/on) travel in or on (a vehicle or horse).
compete in (a race) on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle.
N. Amer. travel in (a lift or vehicle).
2. be carried or supported by (something with great momentum).
(of a vessel) sail or float.
(ride something out) come safely through something.
yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact.
3. project or overlap.
(ride up) (of a garment) gradually move upwards out of its proper position.
4. (ride on) depend on.
5. [often in combination] (be ridden) be full of or dominated by: crime-ridden streets.
6. vulgar slang have sex with.
7. N. Amer. annoy or tease.
¦ noun
1. an act of riding.
2. N. Amer. a person giving a lift in a vehicle.
3. US informal a motor vehicle.
4. a path for horse riding.
5. a roller coaster, roundabout, etc. ridden at a fair or amusement park.
6. (also ride cymbal) a cymbal keeping up a continuous rhythm.
7. vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
Phrases
be riding for a fall informal be acting in a reckless way that invites failure.
let something ride take no immediate action over something.
ride herd on N. Amer. keep watch over.
ride high be successful.
ride shotgun chiefly N. Amer. travel as a guard next to the driver of a vehicle.
ride to hounds chiefly Brit. go fox-hunting on horseback.
a rough (or easy) ride a difficult (or easy) time.
take someone for a ride informal deceive someone.
Derivatives
rideable (also ridable) adjective
Origin
OE ridan, of Gmc origin.