riperipe /raɪp/ ●●○ adjective (comparative riper, superlative ripest) 
Those tomatoes aren’t ripe yet.2be ripe for something to be ready for a change to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner: The police forces are ripe for reform. The former dock area is ripe for development.3the time is ripe (for something) used to say it is a very suitable time for something to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner: The time is ripe for a review of progress up to now.4ripe old age a)if you live to a ripe old age, you are very old when you die: Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age. b)used to show that you find it surprising or impressive that someone is doing something or has achieved something at a very young age – used humorously: She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.5ripe cheese has developed a strong taste and is ready to eat SYN mature6especially British English a ripe smell is strong and unpleasant – used humorously: We were pretty ripe after a week of walking.—ripeness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINripe
Origin:
Old EnglishEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Don't pick the apples until they're really ripe.
- Is this melon ripe enough to eat?
- We were pretty ripe after a week of hiking.
- You'll need a pound of ripe tomatoes.
- Even when ripe, these huge fruits have a greenish yellow skin and flesh, so don't be put off.
- I can taste the rich meat of venison studded with ripe apples and sweet Texas onions.
- I checked daily, in September, until the point where they were almost ripe.
- It was not until they levelled out that she thought again about the possibility of living to a ripe old age.
- So it seemed Meurent lived to a ripe old age.
- The air was ripe with rhetoric, much of it aimed toward the record industry and threatening to whites.
THESAURUS
[not before noun] having done everything that needs to be done in order to prepare for something: · Are you ready? The taxi’s here.· I don’t feel that I’m ready for the test yet.
[not before noun] ready to deal with a situation, because you are expecting it or have made careful preparations: · The police were prepared for trouble.· The team looked well-prepared for the game.
to be ready to start doing something that you have planned to do, and be just about to do it: · We were all set for a barbecue when it started to rain.
American English informal be ready to start doing something after completing all the necessary preparations: · We just need to get you a pair of skis and you’re good to go.
ripe fruit are soft, sweet, and ready to eat: · Don’t pick the apples until they’re really ripe.· a delicious ripe plum
if the arrangements or the equipment for doing something are in place, they are ready to start being used: · The television cameras were in place for the wedding.· All the arrangements are in place for a new constitution and democratic elections.
if people are standing by, they are ready to take action and help if they are needed – used especially about medical teams, police, the army etc: · Officers in full riot gear were standing by outside the police station.· Several ambulances were standing by.
Longman Language Activatorready to be used or eaten if something is ready , you can use it or eat it immediately: · Lunch is ready!· When the pasta's ready, add the sauce.· I'm sorry, your car isn't ready yet, sir.ready to eat/collect/use etc: · Your suit will be ready to pick up on Wednesday.· In a year's time, the wine will be ready to drink.· I tend to buy a lot of meals that are ready to eat (=they have already been cooked).ready for: · Is everything ready for the party?get something ready (=prepare it): · It took several months to get the boat ready for the voyage.
if equipment, a system, a rule, or a plan is in place , it is ready to start being used: · A new PA system should be in place in the next three to six months.· When everything is in place, the building work begins, even if it means running two massive projects at the same time.· The uncertain economy is forcing us to accelerate cost-cutting plans that are already in place.
ripe fruit is soft, sweet, and ready to eat: · Don't pick the apples until they're really ripe.· Is this melon ripe enough to eat?
if something is at the ready , it is nearby or in your hands, so that you can use it immediately if something happens and you need it: · Several reporters were outside, microphones at the ready.have/keep something at the ready: · I kept my camera at the ready in case the bird reappeared.with something at the ready: · Two police officers advanced, with guns at the ready.
written ready to be used when something that you are expecting happens: · The table was carefully laid in readiness.in readiness for: · Everything was laid out on the bed, in readiness for the new baby.
when you are ready to do something if you are ready for something, you have done everything that needs to be done in order to prepare for it: · Are you ready? The taxi's here.· When everyone is ready, I'll give the signal to start.ready for: · I don't feel that I'm ready for the test yet.ready to do something: · Everything is packed and we're ready to leave.get ready (=prepare yourself to do something): · That's settled then. I'll go and get ready.· My sister always spends hours getting ready to go out.· It was soon time for the actors to get ready for the evening performance.ready and waiting: · The wedding guests were all ready and waiting long before the bride arrived.ready when you are (=I am ready to do something as soon as you are): · "Shall we go then?" "Yes, ready when you are."
ready to deal with a situation, because you were expecting it or because you have made careful preparations: prepared for: · The police were prepared for trouble.· I was not prepared for all the questions they asked.well prepared: · The team was well prepared and focussed on the issues.
to be ready and eager to start doing something: · On Christmas Day, the kids are always up and ready to go at 6 o'clock.· If everyone's ready to go, let's get started.
to be ready to start doing something that you have planned to do and want to do: · Dad got on his bike. "Are you all set?" he called.be all set for: · The team are all set for another comfortable victory.be all set to do something: · We were all set to start the barbecue when it started to rain.
if an organization or group of people are geared up for something that is going to happen, they have made careful plans so that they can deal with it as soon as it happens: be geared up for: · There are clear signs that the governor is geared up for a second attempt at the White House.be geared up to do something: · Companies that survive are the ones that are geared up to meet the demands of the future.get geared up: · The airport was getting geared up to deal with a heavier schedule of flights.
if you do something in readiness for something that you expect will happen, you do it so that you will be ready: · As the conflict grew worse, troops waited in readiness at the borders.in readiness for: · A new stage and seating area has been built in readiness for tonight's sell-out performance.
spoken used to tell someone who is impatient for you to do something that you will not do it until your are ready: · Dad says he'll come when he's good and ready.· Leave me alone! I'll tell her when I'm good and ready.
American spoken to have completed all the necessary preparations and be ready to start doing something: · We just need to get you a pair of skis and you're good to go.· "Do you have all the hiking gear?" "Yeah, I'm good to go."
to be in a suitable condition to be ready for something, especially a positive change: · Economists regard the region as being ripe for development.· After the divorce I was thoroughly fed up and ripe for a new start, so I agreed to take the job.
WORD SETSalfalfa, nounarable, adjectivebarley, nounbran, nouncacao, nouncanker, nouncash crop, nouncassava, nouncereal, nouncocoa, nouncorn, nouncrop, nouncrop-dusting, nouncrop rotation, nouncrop-spraying, nouncultivate, verbcultivated, adjectivecultivation, nouncultivator, noundrill, noundrill, verbear, nounfertilize, verbfertilizer, nounfield corn, noungerminate, verbglean, verbgrain, noungranary, noungrower, nounharvest, nounharvest, verbharvester, nounhay, nounhayloft, nounhaystack, nounhorticulture, nounkernel, nounlift, verbmaize, nounmalt, nounmarket garden, nounmillet, nounoats, nounorchard, nounorganic, adjectiveplant, verbplantation, nounpotato, nounproduce, nounpropagate, verbprune, verbreap, verbrice, nounrice paddy, nounripe, adjectiveroot crop, nounrotate, verbrye, nounryegrass, nounscion, nounseason, nounseed, verbseedbed, nounsheaf, nounsisal, nounsorghum, nounsow, verbsprout, nounstraw, nounstubble, nounsugar beet, nountaro, nountill, verbtillage, noununripe, adjectivevegetable, nounvineyard, nounviticulture, nounwheat, nounwindfall, nounwinnow, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age. She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age. She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.· Start with fresh, ripe fruit, then rinse carefully in cold water and drain well or pat dry with paper towel.· Success fell into their laps like ripe fruit from a tree.· I glance up from my book to notice the apple tree heavy with ripe fruit.
· The end result was that my head now looked like a ripe tomato.· Numerous recipes use more familiar ingredients, such as the summertime trio of ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1ripe fruit or crops are fully grown and ready to eat OPP unripe: - If ever a songwriting team were ripe for revival, it's Bacharach and David.
- Again frustrated, the two were ripe for the monetary stability Clive Davis could offer.
- Gore is ripe for the plucking.
- In other words, expect whispers that he is ripe for voluntary retirement in an autumn reshuffle.
- The job search took him seven years, and by that time he was ripe for retirement.
- The time is ripe for an attempt to weaken his position.
- The time was ripe for major change.
- Whatever precautions a father takes, when the daughter is ripe for it, puberty will set in.
- Within six months, they in turn would be ripe for constructive torment by Lexandro's peers.
- Amato thinks the time is ripe for educational reform.
- The time was ripe for change in the company.
- As with acupuncture, this is a difficult field for research, but the time is ripe for active scientific investigations.
- So the time is ripe for a major overhaul of the sixth form.
- Angie was the orchestra's soloist at the ripe old age of 22.
- Da Ponte lived to the ripe old age of 89.
- At the ripe old age of 28 he says he can no longer bear the rigours of the game.
- Ex-wife Alana demonstrates that she's still out in front in the glamour stakes at the ripe old age of 43.
- Inpart this reflects increasing expenditure on state pensions as more and more people live to a ripe old age.
- It was not until they levelled out that she thought again about the possibility of living to a ripe old age.
- Or I could make serious, long-term changes and hope to live to a ripe old age.
- So it seemed Meurent lived to a ripe old age.
- There's no escape from that if you want to live to a ripe old age.
- Tom had not reached the ripe old age of twenty-nine without discovering quite a few of them.
Those tomatoes aren’t ripe yet.2be ripe for something to be ready for a change to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner: The police forces are ripe for reform. The former dock area is ripe for development.3the time is ripe (for something) used to say it is a very suitable time for something to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner: The time is ripe for a review of progress up to now.4ripe old age a)if you live to a ripe old age, you are very old when you die: Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age. b)used to show that you find it surprising or impressive that someone is doing something or has achieved something at a very young age – used humorously: She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.5ripe cheese has developed a strong taste and is ready to eat SYN mature6especially British English a ripe smell is strong and unpleasant – used humorously: We were pretty ripe after a week of walking.—ripeness noun [uncountable]