ramp
/ræmp/ (bre, ipa) · /ræmp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈramp/ (ame, mw)
ramp — noun
- rampsingular
- rampsplural
1. A built sloping surface that connects two areas at different heights, allowing p
A built sloping surface that connects two areas at different heights, allowing people or things to move between levels without using steps.
Trang pushed the wheelchair up the ramp and into the clinic.
collocation: wheelchair ramp
The delivery driver rolled the heavy box down the loading ramp into the warehouse.
collocation: loading ramp
A portable ramp helped the children load their bicycles onto the back of the van.
The school installed a concrete ramp so wheelchair users could enter the building easily.
- stairs
steps instead of a continuous sloping surface
常見錯誤
2. A raised strip across a street that forces drivers to reduce their speed for the
A raised strip across a street that forces drivers to reduce their speed for the safety of people nearby.
Takeshi slowed the car when he saw the ramp ahead on the street near school.
A speed ramp in the parking lot forced drivers to move at walking pace.
collocation: speed ramp
Tuan felt the car bounce as it drove over the ramp outside the hospital.
The neighbourhood council added ramps to discourage speeding on the narrow street.
- speed bump
standard American English term
- speed hump
wider and lower than a speed bump
- sleeping policeman
informal British term
用法筆記
More common in British English than American English; American speakers typically use 'speed bump' or 'speed hump' instead of 'ramp' for this sense.
常見錯誤
3. A short connecting road that drivers use to enter or leave a highway or motorway
A short connecting road that drivers use to enter or leave a highway or motorway.
Bilal took the wrong ramp and ended up driving south instead of north.
The off-ramp was closed for repairs, so drivers had to use the next exit.
compound noun: off-ramp
Shanti merged onto the motorway using the acceleration ramp.
A large sign before the ramp tells you which direction the road leads.
用法筆記
Commonly combined with 'on-' or 'off-' to form compounds: 'on-ramp' (entrance) and 'off-ramp' (exit). British English prefers 'slip road'.
常見錯誤
4. A wild onion species that grows in the forests of eastern North America, with wi
A wild onion species that grows in the forests of eastern North America, with wide green leaves and a pungent flavour similar to a mix of onion and garlic. The plant is picked in early spring and used in cooking.
Romi picked wild ramps in the forest and added them to her salad.
Wild ramps have a flavour that is somewhere between onion and garlic.
Farmers in the Appalachian mountains gather ramps every spring for local markets.
Eshe cooked the ramps slowly in butter until the leaves turned soft and sweet.
- wild leek
another common name
- spring onion
similar but not the same; ramps have a stronger, more garlic-like taste
- Allium tricoccum
scientific name
用法筆記
Also called 'wild leek' or 'spring onion'. The plant is a seasonal delicacy in parts of eastern North America and is often foraged rather than farmed. Not to be confused with common supermarket spring onions.
常見錯誤
ramp — verb
- ramppresent simple I / you / we / they
- ramps3rd person singular
- ramping-ing form
- rampedpast simple
1. To increase quickly or steadily in amount, level, speed, or rate; to make someth
To increase quickly or steadily in amount, level, speed, or rate; to make something grow or accelerate.
The factory ramped up production to meet the holiday demand for toys.
transitive: ramp up + production
Sales ramped up quickly after the new smartphone was launched online.
intransitive: ramp up — increase quickly
Justin ramped up his training schedule to four hours a day before the race.
The hospital ramped up testing capacity when the outbreak hit the city.
- decrease
general opposite
- scale down
opposite action in business contexts
- wind down
gradual reduction
文法句型
ramp up + noun
ramp + up
ramp up + to + amount
用法筆記
Most commonly used with 'up' as a phrasal verb: 'ramp up'. Can be used transitively ('they ramped up production') or intransitively ('production ramped up'). Very frequent in business, manufacturing, and technology contexts.
常見錯誤
2. To rise up on the back legs with the front legs or arms lifted, used especially
To rise up on the back legs with the front legs or arms lifted, used especially for animals showing threat or aggression.
The lion ramped on its hind legs, letting out a deep roar.
ramp + on + body part: on its hind legs
The horse suddenly ramped, throwing the rider off its back.
intransitive: ramp — rise on hind legs
In the old tapestry, two large bears ramp at each other outside a cave.
The stallion ramped forward on its hind legs, startling the stable hands below.
- lie down
opposite posture
文法句型
ramp + adverb phrase
用法筆記
This sense is now largely literary or heraldic. In modern everyday English, 'rear up' or 'rearing' is far more common than 'ramp' for describing animals rising on hind legs.
常見錯誤
3. To behave in a wild, angry, or violent way, often moving around without control.
To behave in a wild, angry, or violent way, often moving around without control.
The angry crowd ramped through the streets, breaking windows and overturning cars.
ramp + through [location] — violent movement
In the legend, a dragon ramped through the valley, burning every village it passed.
literary register: dragon + ramp for mythical rage
The wounded knight ramped through the castle gates, his sword swinging wildly.
A warrior ramped across the battlefield, howling with rage and swinging his axe.
文法句型
ramp + adverb/preposition phrase
用法筆記
Strongly literary; in modern English, 'rampage' (verb) or 'go on a rampage' is far more common than 'ramp' for violent behaviour. This sense is also related to the adjective 'rampant' (e.g. 'a rampant lion' or 'rampant inflation').
常見錯誤
4. To grow slowly upward over a surface by creeping or climbing, used especially of
To grow slowly upward over a surface by creeping or climbing, used especially of vines and climbing plants.
The ivy ramped slowly up the stone wall at the back of the old house.
ramp + up + surface
Morning glories ramped over the wooden fence and covered it with purple flowers.
ramp + over — covering a surface
The climbing roses had ramped across the entire side of the garden shed by August.
Justin watched the green bean vines creep up the bamboo poles in his backyard.
文法句型
ramp + up/over/across + surface
用法筆記
Nearly obsolete in modern English for this meaning. 'Creep', 'climb', or 'trail' are far more common for describing plant growth. This sense survives mainly in botanical or literary descriptions.