riot

plural riots

1. countableuncountableA tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property.

   The protests began peacefully but turned into riots after several days.

2. countablefigurativelyuncountableA wide and unconstrained variety.

   In summer this flower garden is a riot of colour.

   1 more example

   The human world is contracting not only prospectively but to the backward-probing eye of culture-history. Nevertheless we are as yet far from able to reduce the riot of spoken languages to a small number of “stocks.”

   1921, Edward Sapir, chapter VII, in Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech

3. colloquialuncountableA humorous or entertaining event or person.

   They call me "quiet girl", but I'm a riot

   2007, Jules De Martino, Katie White, “That's Not My Name”, performed by The Ting Tings

   1 more example

   Check this out! We have to get this! I can't believe all this stuff! This is a total riot!

   1997, Daniel Clowes, “The First Time”, in Ghost World, Jonathan Cape, published 2000, →ISBN, page 34

4. countableuncountableWanton or unrestrained behavior or emotion.

   For when his head-ſtrong Riot hath no Curbe,

   c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 93

5. countableobsoleteuncountableExcessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.

   the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day

   1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC

present singular third person riots · participle present rioting · participle past rioted · past rioted

1. intransitiveTo create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.

   The nuclear protesters rioted outside the military base.

2. intransitiveobsoleteTo act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.

   Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, / Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law.

   1595, Samuel Daniel, “(please specify the folio number)”, in The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, London: […] P[eter] Short for Simon Waterson, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Think of the insults, wrongs, and contumelies, / Ye bear from your proud lords—that your hard toil / Manures their fertile fields—you plow the earth, / You sow the corn, you reap the ripen'd harvest,— / They riot on the produce!— […]

   1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: J[ohn] M‘Creery, […] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, →OCLC, Act I, page 21

3. transitiveTo cause to riot; to throw into a tumult.
4. transitiveTo annoy.