ride

verb (past rode /rəʊd/; past participle ridden /ˈrɪd(ə)n/)

• 1sit on and control the movement of (an animal, typically a horse):Jane and Rory were riding their ponies [no object]:I haven’t ridden much since the accident
• [no object, with adverbial] travel on a horse or other animal:we rode on horseback some of the officers were riding back
• sit on and control (a bicycle or motorcycle):he rode a Harley Davidson across the United States
• [no object] (ride in/on) travel in or on (a vehicle) as a passenger:I started riding on the buses
• chiefly North American travel in (a vehicle or lift):she rides the bus across 42nd Street
• go through or over (an area) on a horse, bicycle, etc.:ride the full length of the Ridgeway
• compete in (a race) on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle:I rode a good race
• [no object, with adverbial or complement] (of a vehicle, animal, racetrack, etc.) be of a particular character for riding on or in:the Metro rode as well as some cars of twice the price
• informal transport (someone) in a vehicle: the taxi driver who rode Kale into the airport not long ago
• South African transport (goods):neighbours rode loads of prickly pear to feed their animals

• 2be carried or supported by (something moving with great momentum):a stream of young surfers fighting the elements to ride the waves figurativethe fund rode the growth boom in the 1980s
• [no object] move so as to project or overlap:when two lithospheric plates collide, one tends to ride over the other
• [no object] (of a vessel) sail or float:a large cedar barque rode at anchor figurativethe moon was riding high in the sky

• 3 (be ridden) be full of or dominated by:you must not think him ridden with angst (as adjective, in combination -ridden)the crime-ridden streets

• 4yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact:Harrison drew back his jaw as if riding the blow

• 5 vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

• 6North American annoy, pester, or tease:if you don’t give all the kids a chance to play, the parents ride you

noun

• 1a journey made on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle, or in a vehicle:I took them for a ride in the van figurativeinvestors have had a bumpy ride
• North American a person giving someone a lift in a vehicle:their ride into town had dropped them off near the bridge
• US informal a motor vehicle.
• the quality of comfort or smoothness offered by a vehicle while it is being driven:the ride is comfortable, though there is a slight roll when cornering
• a path, typically one through woods, for horse riding.
• Canadian a demonstration of horse riding as an entertainment.

• 2a roller coaster, roundabout, or other amusement ridden at a fair or amusement park.

• 3 vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
• a sexual partner of a specified ability.

• 4 (also ride cymbal) a cymbal used for keeping up a continuous rhythm.