The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.
Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
| rabi | (Urdu) the spring grain harvest in India and Pakistan > RABIS. [Arabic rabi, spring]. Cf. KHARIF. |
| raca | (Aramaic) empty, worthless (used as term of derision in Matthew 5.22). |
| race | To compete in a contest of speed > RACES, RACING, RACED or (obs.) RAST. |
| rach | A dog that hunts by scent > RACHES. Also RACHE, RATCH. |
| rack | To place in a type of framework > RACKS, RACKING, RACKED. |
| racy | Pungent > RACIER, RACIEST; RACILY. |
| rade | (Dial.) rode. |
| rads | (Pl.) RAD, a unit of radiation. |
| raff | Rubbish, refuse > RAFFS. |
| raft | A buoyant platform of logs, planks, etc., used as a vessel or moored platform; (verb) to convey by raft > RAFTS, RAFTING, RAFTED. |
| raga | (Sanskrit) an Indian musical form > RAGAS. [Skr. raga, colour, tone]. |
| rage | To act or speak with violent anger > RAGES, RAGING, RAGED. |
| ragg | A rough hard stone > RAGGS. Also RAG. |
| ragi | (Hindi) a kind of millet > RAGIS. Also RAGGEE, RAGEE, RAGGY. |
| rags | (3rd.) RAG, to tease or ridicule. |
| ragu | In Italian cooking, a meat and tomato source. |
| rahs | (Pl.) RAH, to express approbation. |
| raia | (Arabic) a non-Muslim subject of Turkey > RAIAS. Also RAYAH, RAYA. |
| raid | To make a sudden assault on > RAIDS, RAIDING, RAIDED. |
| raik | (Scots) a course, journey; a range, pasture; (verb) to go, to range > RAIKS, RAIKING, RAIKED. |
| rail | To scold in abusive or insolent language > RAILS, RAILING, RAILED. |
| rain | To fall like rain (drops of water condensed from atmospheric vapor) > RAINS, RAINING, RAINED. |
| rais | (Pl.) RAI, a modern North African form of popular music. |
| rait | To soak flax > RAITS, RAITING, RAITED. Also RET. |
| raja | (Hindi) an Indian ruler > RAJAS. Also RAJAH. |
| rake | To gather with a toothed implement > RAKES, RAKING, RAKED. |
| raki | (Turkish) a strong spirit distilled in Turkey, Yugoslavia, etc., from grain, usually flavoured with aniseed or other aromatics > RAKIS. Also RAKEE. |
| raku | (Japanese) a kind of earthenware made in Japan > RAKUS. |
| rale | (Fr.) a rattling sound from a diseased lung > RALES. |
| rami | (Malay) Rhea or China grass, a plant of the nettle family > RAMIS. Also RAMEE, RAMIE. |
| ramp | (Verb) to provide with a ramp; to swindle, esp. by the practice of causing large, false increases in the price of shares etc. by dishonest means > RAMPS, RAMPING, RAMPED. |
| rams | (3rd.) RAM, to push or cram down hard. |
| rana | (Hindi) a Rajput prince > RANAS. |
| rand | (Noun) a monetary unit of S.Africa; (verb) to rant > RANDS, RANDING, RANDED. |
| rang | (Pt.) RING, to give forth a clear, resonant sound. |
| rani | (Hindi) an Indian queen > RANIS. Also RANEE. |
| rank | Coarsely luxuriant > RANKER, RANKEST; RANKLY; (verb) to arrange in order > RANKS, RANKING, RANKED. |
| rant | To speak in a loud or vehement manner > RANTS, RANTING, RANTED. |
| rape | To force to submit to sexual intercourse > RAPES, RAPING, RAPED. |
| raps | (3rd.) RAP, to strike sharply. |
| rapt | Deeply engrossed > RAPTLY. |
| rare | Not common > RARER, RAREST; RARELY; (verb) to be enthusiastic, as in 'raring to go' > RARES, RARING, RARED. |
| rark | (NZ) to reprimand > RARKS, RARKING, RARKED. |
| rase | To level to the ground > RASES, RASING, RASED. Also RAZE. |
| rash | (Adj.) over-hasty > RASHER, RASHEST; RASHLY; (verb) (obs.) to dash, rush > RASHES, RASHING, RASHED. |
| rasp | To rub with something rough > RASPS, RASPING, RASPED. |
| rast | (Obs.) pt. RACE. |
| rata | (Maori) a myrtaceous New Zealand tree with hard red wood and bearing crimson flowers > RATAS. |
| rate | To estimate the value of > RATES, RATING, RATED. |
| rath | (Noun) a prehistoric hill fort > RATHS; (adj.) quick, ready > RATHER, RATHEST. |
| rato | Rocket-assisted take-off > RATOS. |
| rats | (3rd.) RAT, to hunt rats. |
| ratu | A local chief or ruler in Indonesia or Fiji > RATUS. Also RATOO. |
| raun | (Scott) fish-roe; female fish > RAUNS. Also RAWN. |
| rave | To speak irrationally or incoherently > RAVES, RAVING, RAVED. |
| ravs | (Pl.) RAV, a rabbi, esp one in authority. |
| rawn | (Scots) fish-roe; female fish > RAWNS. Also RAUN. |
| raws | (Pl.) RAW, a sore place. |
| raya | (Arabic) a non-Muslim subject of Turkey > RAYAS. Also RAYAH, RAIA. |
| rays | (3rd.) RAY, to emit rays. |
| raze | To tear down or demolish > RAZES, RAZING, RAZED. Also RASE. |
| razz | (Sl.) a raspberry; (verb) to blow a raspberry > RAZZES, RAZZING, RAZZED. |
| read | To look at so as to take in the meaning of, as something written or printed > READS, READING, READ. |
| reak | (Verb) to reckon, care for, heed > REAKS, REAKING, REAKED. Also RECK, REKE. |
| real | Genuine > REALER, REALEST; REALLY; (noun) a monetary unit in Brazil > REALS, REALES or REIS. |
| ream | To enlarge the bore of > REAMS, REAMING, REAMED. |
| rean | A drainage channel > REANS. Also REEN, RHINE, RHYNE. |
| reap | To cut for harvest > REAPS, REAPING, REAPED. |
| rear | To lift upright > REARS, REARING, REARED. |
| rebs | (Pl.) REB, a Confederate soldier. |
| reck | (Verb) to heed, care > RECKED, ROUGHT, RAUGHT. Also REAK, REKE. |
| recs | (Pl.) REC, a recreation ground. |
| redd | (Scots) to put in order > REDDS, REDDING, REDDED. |
| rede | (Arch.) to advise or counsel > REDES, REDING, REDED. |
| redo | (Noun) a repeated action > REDOS; (verb) to do again > REDOES, REDOING, REDID, REDONE. |
| reds | (3rd.) RED, to put in order. |
| reed | A tall stiff hard-culmed marsh or water grass of various kinds; (verb) to fasten or thatch with reed > REEDS, REEDING, REEDED. |
| reef | (Verb) to reduce the area of a sail by rolling or folding part of it > REEFS, REEFING, REEFED. |
| reek | To emit smoke, fumes etc > REEKS, REEKING, REEKED. Also REECH. |
| reel | A lively dance of the Scottish Highlands; (verb) to stagger > REELS, REELING, REELED. |
| reen | A drainage channel > REENS. Also REAN, RHINE, RHYNE. |
| rees | (Pl.) REE, a female RUFF. |
| refi | (Short for) refinancing > REFIS. |
| refs | (Pl.) REF, referee. |
| reft | (Pt.) REAVE, to rob, plunder. |
| rego | (Aus. coll) abbreviation for (motor vehicle) registration > REGOS. Also REGGO. |
| regs | (Pl.) REG, a regulation. |
| rehs | (Pl.) REH, an efflorescence of salts on soil in India. |
| reif | (Shakesp.) property etc. taken by force or robbery; plunder, booty > REIFS. |
| reik | A prank > REIKS. Also REAK. |
| rein | To restrain > REINS, REINING, REINED. |
| reis | Twigs or small branches > REISES. |
| reke | (Verb) to reckon, care for, heed > REKES, REKING, REKED. Also RECK, REAK. |
| rely | To place trust or confidence > RELIES, RELYING, RELIED or (Spenser) RELIDE. |
| rems | (Pl.) REM, a unit of radiation damage. |
| rend | To tear apart forcibly > RENDS, RENDING, RENDED or RENT or (obs.) YRENT. |
| renk | (N. England) horrible, unpleasant > RENKER, RENKEST. |
| reno | (Short for) a renovated house > RENOS. |
| rens | (3rd.) REN, to run. |
| rent | To obtain temporary use of in return for compensation > RENTS, RENTING, RENTED. |
| reny | To renounce, abjure > RENIES, RENYING, RENIED. Also RENAY, RENEY. |
| reos | (Pl.) REO, a New Zealand language. |
| repo | (Abbr.) repossession > REPOS. |
| repp | A kind of corded cloth > REPPS. Also REP. |
| reps | (Pl.) REP, a commercial representative. |
| resh | (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > RESHES. |
| rest | To refresh oneself by ceasing work or activity > RESTS, RESTING, RESTED. |
| rete | A network, esp. of blood-vessels or nerves > RETES or RETIA. |
| rets | (3rd.) RET, to expose to moisture (flax, hemp, etc.). |
| revs | (3rd.) REV, to increase the speed of revolution. |
| rews | (Pl.) REW, a row. |
| rhea | An ostrich-like bird > RHEAS. |
| rhos | (Pl.) RHO, a letter of the Greek alphabet. |
| rhus | (Lat.) a genus of shrubs and small trees > RHUSES. |
| riad | (Arabic) a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden > RIADS. |
| rial | The unit of currency in Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia, aka RIYAL > RIALS. Also, an old English gold coin, aka RYAL. |
| rias | (Pl.) RIA, a drowned valley. |
| riba | (Arabic) interest or usury, as forbidden by the Koran > RIBAS. |
| ribs | (3rd.) RIB, to tease. |
| rice | (Verb) to form soft food, esp. potatoes, into strands by passing through a RICER, sieve etc > RICES, RICING, RICED. |
| rich | Wealthy > RICHER, RICHEST; RICHLY; (verb) obs. to grow rich > RICHES, RICHING, RICHED. |
| rick | To pile hay in stacks > RICKS, RICKING, RICKED. |
| ricy | Containing rice > RICIER, RICIEST. Also RICEY. |
| ride | To sit on, control, and be conveyed by an animal or machine > RIDES, RIDING, RODE or (obs.) RADE, RIDDEN. |
| rids | (3rd.) RID, to free or clear. |
| riel | The basic monetary unit of Kampuchea > RIELS. |
| riem | (Afrikaans) a raw-hide thong > RIEMS. |
| rife | Abundant, prevalent > RIFER, RIFEST; RIFELY. |
| riff | (In jazz) a short rhythmic phrase repeated constantly; (verb) to play such a phrase > RIFFS, RIFFING, RIFFED. |
| rifs | (3rd.) RIF, to dismiss from employment. |
| rift | (Verb) to make a rift in > RIFTS, RIFTING, RIFTED. |
| rigg | The dogfish > RIGGS. |
| rigs | (3rd.) RIG, to fit with sails. |
| rile | To anger > RILES, RILING, RILED. |
| rill | (Verb) to flow in a rill or rills > RILLS, RILLING, RILLED. |
| rima | (Lat.) in full rima glottidis > the passage in the glottis between the vocal cords > RIMAE. |
| rime | Hoar-frost; (verb) to cover with rime > RIMES, RIMING, RIMED. |
| rims | (3rd.) RIM, to provide with a rim. |
| rimu | (Maori) a coniferous New Zealand tree > RIMUS. |
| rimy | Covered with rime > RIMIER, RIMIEST. |
| rind | (Verb) to bark, encrust > RINDS, RINDING, RINDED. |
| rine | (Spenser) rind > RINES. |
| ring | To form a ring (a circular band) around > RINGS, RINGING, RINGED; to give forth a clear, resonant sound > RINGS, RINGING, RANG, RUNG. |
| rink | A place for ice-skating; (verb) to skate on a rink > RINKS, RINKING, RINKED. |
| rins | (3rd.) RIN, to run. |
| riot | To take part in a violent public disturbance > RIOTS, RIOTING, RIOTED. |
| ripe | Ready for harvest > RIPER, RIPEST; RIPELY; (verb) to ripen, also to grope, search, ransack > RIPES, RIPING, RIPED. |
| ripp | (Scots) a plucked handful e.g. of grass, corn > RIPPS. |
| rips | (3rd.) RIP, to tear open or apart. |
| ript | (Obs.) pt. RIP. |
| rise | To move upward > RISES, RISING, ROSE, RISEN. |
| risk | To expose to a risk (a chance of injury or loss) > RISKS, RISKING, RISKED. |
| risp | (Scots) to rasp, grate > RISPS, RISPING, RISPED. |
| rite | A ceremonial act or procedure > RITES. |
| rits | (3rd.) RIT, to scratch. |
| ritt | (Scots) to scratch > RITTS, RITTING, RITTED. Also RIT. |
| ritz | A pretentious display > RITZES. |
| riva | (ON) in Shetland, a cleft in rock. [ON rifa]. |
| rive | To rend, tear apart > RIVES, RIVING, RIVED, RIVEN, RIFTE, YRIVD. |
| rivo | (Shakesp.) a drinking-cry > RIVOS. |
| riza | (Russian) an ornamental silver plate covering a Russian icon > RIZAS. |
| road | An open way for public passage > ROADS. |
| roam | To move about without purpose or plan > ROAMS, ROAMING, ROAMED. |
| roan | (Scots) a roof-gutter > ROANS. Also RONE, RHONE. |
| roar | To utter a loud, deep sound > ROARS, ROARING, ROARED. |
| robe | A gown or loose outer garment; a gown or dress of office, rank or state; (verb) to dress in a robe > ROBES, ROBING, ROBED. |
| robs | (3rd.) ROB, to steal. |
| roch | The little auk > ROCHES. Also ROTCHIE, ROTCH, ROTCHE. |
| rock | To move back and forth > ROCKS, ROCKING, ROCKED. |
| rocs | (Pl.) ROC, a fabulous bird. |
| rode | (Verb) of a woodcock, to make an evening flight > RODES, RODING, RODED. |
| rods | (3rd.) ROD, to push a rod through e.g. a drain to clear it. |
| roed | Filled with roe. |
| roes | (Pl.) ROE, a mass of fish eggs. |
| rohe | (Maori) the territory controlled by a Maori tribal group > ROHES. |
| roid | as in roid rage, angry and aggressive behaviour caused by the use of anabolic steroids. |
| roil | To make muddy by stirring or to disturb sediment > ROILS, ROILING, ROILED. |
| roin | (Spenser) to growl, roar > ROINS, ROINING, ROINED. Also ROYNE. |
| roji | (Japanese) a form of Japanese garden design > ROJIS. |
| roke | (Dial.) steam, vapour; (verb) to steam, smoke > ROKES, ROKING, ROKED. |
| roks | (Pl.) ROK, a mythical bird. |
| roky | (Dial.) misty; foggy; cloudy > ROKIER, ROKIEST. |
| role | A part played by an actor > ROLES. |
| rolf | To practise massage > ROLFS, ROLFING, ROLFED. |
| roll | To move along by repeatedly turning over > ROLLS, ROLLING, ROLLED. |
| roma | (Pl.) ROM, a gypsy man. |
| romp | To play boisterously > ROMPS, ROMPING, ROMPED. |
| roms | (Pl.) ROM, a gypsy man or boy. |
| rona | (n) (slang) COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. |
| rone | (Scots) a roof-gutter > RONES. Also RHONE, ROAN. |
| rong | (Obs.) pt. of RING. |
| ront | (Spenser) a runt > RONTS. Also RONTE. |
| ronz | (Acronym) the rest of New Zealand. |
| rood | A cross or crucifix at the entrance to a church chancel > ROODS. |
| roof | To provide with a roof (the external upper covering of a building) > ROOFS, ROOFING, ROOFED. |
| rook | (Verb) to swindle > ROOKS, ROOKING, ROOKED. |
| room | A walled space within a building; (verb) to occupy a room > ROOMS, ROOMING, ROOMED. |
| roon | (Scots) a strip of cloth, a selvage > ROONS. Also RUND, ROYNE. |
| roop | (Scots) to make a hoarse sound > ROOPS, ROOPING, ROOPED. |
| roos | (Pl.) ROO, kangaroo. |
| root | To put forth a root (an underground portion of a plant) > ROOTS, ROOTING, ROOTED. |
| rope | To bind with a rope (a thick line of twisted fibers) > ROPES, ROPING, ROPED. |
| ropy | Of a liquid or bread > forming viscid or slimy threads; sticky and stringy > ROPIER, ROPIEST; ROPILY. Also ROPEY. |
| rore | (Shakesp.) a roar > RORES. |
| rort | To commit fraud, falsify accounts > RORTS, RORTING, RORTED. |
| rory | (Scots) noisy, garish > RORIER, RORIEST. Also ROARY, ROARIE, RORIE. |
| rose | (Verb) to redden > ROSES, ROSING, ROSED. |
| rost | (Obs.) to roast > ROSTS, ROSTING, ROSTED. |
| rosy | Rose-coloured > ROSIER, ROSIEST; ROSILY; (verb) to redden > ROSIES, ROSYING, ROSIED. |
| rota | (Lat.) a roster; a tribunal in the Roman Catholic church > ROTAS. |
| rote | (Verb) to fix by rote > ROTES, ROTING, ROTED. |
| roti | (Hindi) a cake of unleavened bread > ROTIS. |
| rotl | (Arabic) a variable Levantine weight > ARTAL or ROTLS. |
| roto | (Abbr. of) ROTOGRAVURE, a type of printing process > ROTOS. |
| rots | (3rd.) ROT, to decay. |
| roue | (Fr.) a debauched man; a lecher > ROUES. |
| roul | (Obs.) a roll > ROULS. Also ROULE. |
| roum | (Obs.) a room > ROUMS. |
| roup | (Scots) to sell by auction > ROUPS, ROUPING, ROUPED. |
| rout | To defeat overwhelmingly > ROUTS, ROUTING, ROUTED. |
| roux | (Fr.) a thickening made of equal quantities of butter and flour mixed together > ROUX. |
| rove | To roam > ROVES, ROVING, ROVED. |
| rows | (3rd.) ROW, to propel through water with oars. |
| rowt | (Obs.) to rout > ROWTS, ROWTING, ROWTED. |
| rube | (US slang) a bumpkin, easy mark > RUBES. |
| rubs | (3rd.) RUB, to rob. |
| ruby | A pure transparent red corundum; (verb) to redden > RUBIES, RUBYING, RUBIED; (adj.) red like a ruby > RUBIER, RUBIEST. |
| ruck | To crease, pucker > RUCKS, RUCKING, RUCKED. |
| rucs | (Pl.) RUC, a fabulous bird. |
| rudd | A fish related to the roach > RUDDS. |
| rude | Boorish > RUDER, RUDEST; RUDELY; (noun) a rude boy > RUDES. |
| rudi | (In Jamaica) a member of a group of lower- or working-class teenagers in the 1960s, noted for listening to ska music and for juvenile delinquency > RUDIS. |
| ruds | (Pl.) RUD, redness of complexion. |
| rudy | (In Jamaica) a member of a group of lower- or working-class teenagers in the 1960s, noted for listening to ska music and for juvenile delinquency > RUDIES. |
| rued | (Pt.) RUE, to regret. |
| ruer | One who rues > RUERS. |
| rues | (Pl.) RUE, a plant with medicinal leaves. |
| ruff | (At bridge) to play a trump card when one cannot follow through > RUFFS, RUFFING, RUFFED. |
| ruga | (Lat.) an anatomical fold or wrinkle > RUGAE. |
| rugs | (3rd.) RUG, to pull roughly. |
| ruin | To destroy > RUINS, RUINING, RUINED. |
| rukh | (Persian) a fabulous bird > RUKHS. Also ROK, ROC, RUC. |
| rule | To exercise control over > RULES, RULING, RULED. |
| ruly | Obedient, orderly > RULIER, RULIEST. |
| rume | (Shakesp.) rheum > RUMES. |
| rump | (Verb) to turn one's back upon > RUMPS, RUMPING, RUMPED. |
| rums | (Pl.) RUM, spirit made from sugar cane. |
| rund | (Scots) a strip of cloth, a selvage > RUNDS. Also ROON, ROYNE. |
| rune | A letter of an ancient alphabet > RUNES, RUNED. |
| rung | A crosspiece forming a step of a ladder > RUNGS. |
| runs | (3rd.) RUN, to move quickly. |
| runt | Anything undersized > RUNTS, RUNTED. Also RONT, RONTE. |
| rurp | A small hook-like piton used in mountaineering > RURPS. |
| ruru | (Maori) the BOOBOOK owl > RURUS. |
| rusa | 1. (Malay) a large Indian deer of the genus RUSA, esp. the SAMBAR. 2. (Hindi) a kind of East Indian grass from which an aromatic oil is distilled > RUSAS. Also ROOSA. |
| ruse | A deception > RUSES. |
| rush | To move swiftly > RUSHES, RUSHING, RUSHED. |
| rusk | A light, soft-textured sweetened biscuit; sweet raised bread dried and browned in an oven > RUSKS. |
| rust | To form rust (a reddish coating that forms on iron) > RUSTS, RUSTING, RUSTED. |
| ruth | Compassion, pity > RUTHS. |
| ruts | (3rd.) RUT, to make a furrow with a wheel. |
| ryal | An old English gold coin worth about ten shillings > RYALS. Also RIAL. |
| ryas | (Pl.) RYA, a type of Scandinavian rug. |
| ryes | (Pl.) RYE, a cereal grass. |
| ryfe | (Spenser) rife. |
| ryke | (Scots) to reach > RYKES, RYKING, RYKED. |
| rynd | A fitting to support a millstone > RYNDS. |
| ryot | (Hindi) an Indian peasant > RYOTS. Also RAIYAT. |
| rype | (Danish) a ptarmigan > RYPER. |
| ryus | (Pl.) RYU, a school of Japanese martial arts. |