1. [n]  a coarse sieve (as for gravel)
2. [n]  a difficult problem
3. [v]  set a riddle
4. [v]  explain a riddle
5. [v]  speak in riddles
6. [v]  pierce many times; "The bullets riddled his body"
7. [v]  separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff

1. \Rid"dle\, n. [OE. ridil, AS. hridder; akin to G. reiter,
   L. cribrum, and to Gr. ??? to distinguish, separate, and G.
   rein clean. See {Crisis}, {Certain}.]
   1. 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. A board having a row of pins, set zigzag, between which
      wire is drawn to straighten it.
   

2. \Rid"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Riddled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Riddling}.]
   1. To separate, as grain from the chaff, with a riddle; to
      pass through a riddle; as, riddle wheat; to riddle coal or
      gravel.
   2. To perforate so as to make like a riddle; to make many
      holes in; as, a house riddled with shot.
   

3. \Rid"dle\, n. [For riddels, s being misunderstood as the
   plural ending; OE. ridels, redels. AS. r?dels; akin to D.
   raadsel, G. r["a]thsel; fr. AS. r?dan to counsel or advise,
   also, to guess. [root]116. Cf. {Read}.]
   Something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a
   puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma;
   hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling.
         To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, That
         solved the riddle which I had proposed.  --Milton.
         'T was a strange riddle of a lady.       --Hudibras.
   

4. \Rid"dle\, v. t.
   To explain; to solve; to unriddle.
         Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. --Dryden.
   

5. \Rid"dle\, v. i.
   To speak ambiguously or enigmatically. ``Lysander riddels
   very prettily.'' --Shak.
   

(Heb. hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson (Judg. 14:12-18). The parabolic prophecy in Ezek. 17:2-18 is there called a "riddle." It was rather, however, an allegory. The word "darkly" in 1 Cor. 13:12 is the rendering of the Greek enigma; marg., "in a riddle."