Definitions for riddleˈrɪd l

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

rid•dleˈrɪd l(n.; v.)-dled, -dling.

(n.)a question framed so as to exercise one's ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning; conundrum.
a puzzling question, problem, or matter.
a puzzling thing or person.
(v.i.)to propound riddles; speak enigmatically.

Origin of riddle:

bef. 1000; ME redel(s) (n.), OE rǣdels(e) counsel, opinion, riddle =rǣd(an) to counsel, rede+-els(e) deverbal n. suffix; loss of -s- in ME through confusion with the pl. form of the n. suffix -el -le (cf. burial )

rid•dleˈrɪd l(v.; n.)-dled, -dling

(v.t.)to pierce with many holes suggesting those of a sieve.
to fill or affect with (something undesirable):
a government riddled with graft.
to sift through a riddle, as gravel; screen.
Category: Mining
(n.)a coarse sieve, as one for sifting sand in a foundry.
Category: Metallurgy

Origin of riddle:

bef. 1100; (n.) ME riddil, OE hriddel, var. of hridder, hrīder, c. G Reiter; akin to L crībrum sieve; (v.) ME ridlen to sift, der. of the n.

Princeton's WordNet

riddle, conundrum, enigma, brain-teaser(noun)
a difficult problem
riddle(verb)
a coarse sieve (as for gravel)
riddle(verb)
pierce with many holes
"The bullets riddled his body"
riddle(verb)
set a difficult problem or riddle
"riddle me a riddle"
riddle, screen(verb)
separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff
permeate, pervade, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddle(verb)
spread or diffuse through
"An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration"; "music penetrated the entire building"; "His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks"
riddle(verb)
speak in riddles
riddle(verb)
explain a riddle

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

riddle(noun)ˈrɪd l
a game in the form of a question with a difficult or funny answer

Webster Dictionary

Riddle(noun)
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
Riddle(noun)
a board having a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it
Riddle(verb)
to separate, as grain from the chaff, with a riddle; to pass through a riddle; as, riddle wheat; to riddle coal or gravel
Riddle(verb)
to perforate so as to make like a riddle; to make many holes in; as, a house riddled with shot
Riddle(noun)
something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma; hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling
Riddle(verb)
to explain; to solve; to unriddle
Riddle(verb)
to speak ambiguously or enigmatically