From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrigrig1 /rɪɡ/ verb (rigged, rigging) [transitive] 1 PPVCHEATto dishonestly arrange the result of an election or competition before it happens SYN fix Some international observers have claimed the election was rigged.2 if people rig prices or rig financial markets, they unfairly agree with each other the prices that will be charged SYN fix, → cartel Two of the largest oil companies have been accused of rigging prices. Some investors feel that the market is rigged.3 TTWto put ropes, sails etc on a ship The ship was fully rigged and ready to sail.Grammar Rig is usually passive in this meaning. → rig somebody ↔ out → rig something ↔ up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
rig• a fully-rigged vessel• Many Labour Party members believed that the ballot to elect a mayoral candidate was rigged.• Many of the game shows of the 1950s turned out to be rigged.• The senator resigned after accusations that the vote had been rigged.• They would never have got into power if the whole thing hadn't been rigged.• All major opposition parties boycotted local elections in November 1990 because they believed that the results would be rigged.• Exasperated, Emma went herself one evening to the spot where Collymore rigged his scales on the limb of a sea grape.• From what she could see, he was showing the children how to rig the boats.• Lou had a buzzer rigged up beside his bed so he could call his wife.• And see if you can rig up something forward-firing.• Attached to the sack was a length of pennant rigging, which he left adrift within reach of the opening chute.• The sail should be rigged with the minimum amount of mast showing at deck level.rigrig2 noun [countable] 1 TETPGa large structure that is used for getting oil from the ground under the sea2 American English informalTTC a large truck We drove the rig down to Baltimore.3 TTWthe way in which a ship’s sails are arrangedExamples from the Corpus
rig• The steady hum of the drilling rigs and the rough growls of heavy machinery moving on the road smear the coastal quiet.• A fractional rig is set on a Proctor spar with swept-back spreaders.• A market downturn in rig moves was more than compensated for by a significant increase in supporting offshore construction projects.• an offshore oil rig• Guerrillas had overrun the exploration camp and set the rig afire.From Longman Business Dictionaryrigrig1 /rɪg/ noun [countable]1MANUFACTURINGa large structure used to get oil from under the groundan offshore oil rigThe company owns and operates 13 drilling rigs in the Southwest USA.2TRANSPORTa large truckTruckers say the bigger rigs will reduce their costs by a third.rigrig2 verb (past tense and past participle rigged, present participle rigging) [transitive]1to arrange or influence a business deal or election in a dishonest way so you get the result you wantThere were claims that the election was rigged.2if companies, groups of investors etc rig prices or rig the market, they work together illegally or unfairly to influence prices, conditions etc to their advantageThe two companies were accused of rigging oil prices.Investors who believe that the market is rigged are likely to withhold their investment.→ See Verb tableOrigin rig1 1. (1700-1800) rig “trick” ((18-19 centuries)). 2. (1400-1500) Probably from a Scandinavian language 