Rib
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪb
Origin
From Middle English rib, from Old English ribb ("rib"), from Proto-Germanic *ribjÄ… ("rib, reef"), from Proto-Indo-European *rebÊ°- ("arch, ceiling, cover"). Cognate with Dutch rib ("rib"), Low German ribbe ("rib"), German Rippe ("rib"), Old Norse rif ("rib, reef"), Serbo-Croatian rebro ("rib").
Noun
rib
(plural ribs)- Any of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and other animals and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum
- A part or piece, similar to a rib, and serving to shape or support something
- A cut of meat enclosing one or more rib bones
- (nautical) Any of several curved members attached to a ship's keel and extending upward and outward to form the framework of the hull
- Any of several transverse pieces that provide an aircraft wing with shape and strength
- (architecture) A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault
- (knitting) A raised ridge in knitted material or in cloth
- (botany) The main, or any of the prominent veins of a leaf
- A teasing joke
- (Ireland, colloquial) A single strand of hair.
- A stalk of celery.
Full definition of rib
Verb
- To shape, support, or provide something with a rib or ribs
- To tease or make fun of someoneHe always gets ribbed for his outrageous shirts.
- To enclose, as if with ribs, and protect; to shut in.
- ShakespeareIt lead were too gross
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. - (transitive) To leave strips of undisturbed ground between the furrows in ploughing (land).