riot

Syllabification: (ri·ot)

Pronunciation: /ˈrīət/

Definition of riot

1a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd:riots broke out in the capital [as modifier]:riot police
an uproar:the film’s sex scenes caused a riot in Cannes
an outburst of uncontrolled feelings:a riot of emotions raged through Frances
archaic uncontrolled revelry; rowdy behavior.

2 [in singular] an impressively large or varied display of something:the garden was a riot of color

3 [in singular] informal a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing:everyone thought she was a riot

[no object]

take part in a violent public disturbance:students rioted in Paris (as noun rioting)a night of rioting
behave in an unrestrained way:another set of emotions rioted through him
archaic act in a dissipated way:an unrepentant prodigal son, rioting off to far countries

Phrases

run riot: behave in a violent and unrestrained way.; (of a mental faculty or emotion) function or be expressed without restraint:her imagination ran riot; proliferate or spread uncontrollably:traditional prejudices were allowed to run riot

Middle English (originally in the sense 'dissolute living'): from Old French riote 'debate', from rioter 'to quarrel', of unknown ultimate origin

Definition of riot in the British & World English dictionary