To ruffle means to disturb or mess up something smooth, creating wrinkles, ripples, or disorder. When wind ruffles your hair, it blows strands in different directions, making them stick up or tangle. A nervous bird might ruffle its feathers, fluffing them out instead of keeping them sleek and flat.

You can ruffle paper by handling it carelessly, creating creases and bent corners. A breeze ruffles the surface of a pond, turning the smooth water into tiny waves. The word captures that specific motion of disturbing something that was orderly or calm.

The word also means to upset or irritate someone, though usually not severely. If your little brother's teasing ruffles you, it bothers you but doesn't truly upset you. Someone who stays calm under pressure might be described as unruffled, keeping their composure when others might panic. Teachers often try to remain unruffled even when their classrooms get chaotic.

As a noun, a ruffle is a strip of gathered or pleated fabric used as decoration on clothing, curtains, or other textiles. Victorian dresses often featured elaborate ruffles at the collar and cuffs. These decorative ruffles create that rippled, wavy effect that gives the word its name.