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rampant

Syllabification: (ramp·ant)
Pronunciation: /ˈrampənt/

Translate rampant | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of rampant

adjective

  • 1(especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked:political violence was rampant rampant inflation
  • (of a person or activity) violent or unrestrained in action or performance:rampant sex
  • (of a plant) lush in growth; luxuriant:a rich soil soon becomes home to rampant weeds
  • 2 [usually postpositive] Heraldry (of an animal) represented standing on one hind foot with its forefeet in the air (typically in profile, facing the dexter (left) side, with right hind foot and tail raised, unless otherwise specified):two gold lions rampant
  • 3 Architecture (of an arch) springing from a level of support at one height and resting on the other support at a higher level.

Derivatives

rampancy

Pronunciation: /-pənsē/

noun

rampantly

adverb

Origin:

Middle English (as a heraldic term): from Old French, literally 'crawling', present participle of ramper (see ramp). From the original use describing a wild animal, arose the sense 'fierce', whence the current notion of 'unrestrained'

The ending of rampant is spelled -ant.

rampant in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of rampant in the British & World English dictionary
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