riddle

Definitions

1. 1noun

   A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.

2. 2noun

   A board having a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.

3. 3transitive verb

   To separate, as grain from the chaff, with a riddle; to pass through a riddle; as, riddle wheat; to riddle coal or gravel.

4. 4transitive verb

   To perforate so as to make like a riddle; to make many holes in; as, a house riddled with shot.

5. 5noun

   Something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma; hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling.

6. 6transitive verb

   To explain; to solve; to unriddle.

7. 7intransitive verb

   To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

8. 8noun

   a coarse sieve (as for gravel)

9. 9noun

   a difficult problem

   Synonyms

   conundrumenigma
10. 10verb

    set a difficult problem or riddle

    "riddle me a riddle"

11. 11verb

    explain a riddle

12. 12verb

    speak in riddles

13. 13verb

    spread or diffuse through

    "An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration"

    "music penetrated the entire building"

    Synonyms

    diffuseimbueinterpenetratepenetratepermeatepervade
14. 14verb

    pierce with many holes

    "The bullets riddled his body"

15. 15verb

    separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff

    Synonyms

    screen