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View synonyms for rib

rib

1

[ rib ]

noun

  1. one of a series of curved bones that are articulated with the vertebrae and occur in pairs, 12 in humans, on each side of the vertebrate body, certain pairs being connected with the sternum and forming the thoracic wall.
  2. a cut of meat, as beef, containing a rib.
  3. Architecture.
    1. any of several archlike members of a vault supporting it at the groins, defining its distinct surfaces, or dividing these surfaces into panels: including ogives and tiercerons.
    2. any of several molded members or moldings, including ridge ribs and liernes, and on the surface of a vault accenting the ridges or dividing the surface into panels.
  4. something resembling a rib in form, position, or use, as a supporting or strengthening part.
  5. a structural member that supports the shape of something:

    an umbrella rib.

  6. Nautical. any of the curved framing members in a ship's hull that rise upward and outward from the keel; frame.
  7. a stiffening beam cast as part of a concrete slab.
  8. a primary vein of a leaf.
  9. a vertical ridge in cloth, especially in knitted fabrics.
  10. a ridge, as in poplin or rep, caused by heavy yarn.
  11. a wife (in humorous allusion to the creation of Eve. Genesis 2:21–22).
  12. Ceramics. a scraper for smoothing clay being thrown on a potter's wheel.
  13. a metal ridge running along the top of the barrel of a firearm to simplify aligning the sights.
  14. a longitudinal strip of metal joining the barrels of a double-barreled gun.


verb (used with object)

, ribbed, rib·bing.
  1. to furnish or strengthen with ribs.
  2. to enclose as with ribs.
  3. to mark with riblike ridges or markings.

rib

2

[ rib ]

verb (used with object)

, ribbed, rib·bing.
  1. to tease; make fun of.

rib

1

/ rɪb /

noun

  1. any of the 24 curved elastic arches of bone that together form the chest wall in man. All are attached behind to the thoracic part of the spinal column Technical namecosta Compare true rib false ribs floating rib
  2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
  3. a cut of meat including one or more ribs
  4. a part or element similar in function or appearance to a rib, esp a structural or supporting member or a raised strip or ridge
  5. a structural member in a wing that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge and maintains the shape of the wing surface
  6. a projecting moulding or band on the underside of a vault or ceiling, which may be structural or ornamental
  7. one of a series of raised rows in knitted fabric See also ribbing
  8. a raised ornamental line on the spine of a book where the stitching runs across it
  9. any of the transverse stiffening timbers or joists forming the frame of a ship's hull
  10. any of the larger veins of a leaf
  11. a metal strip running along the top of the barrel of a shotgun or handgun and guiding the alignment of the sights
  12. a vein of ore in rock
  13. a projecting ridge of a mountain; spur
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to furnish or support with a rib or ribs
  2. to mark with or form into ribs or ridges
  3. to knit plain and purl stitches alternately in order to make raised rows in (knitting)
  4. archaic.
    to enclose with or as if with ribs
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rib

2

/ rɪb /

verb

  1. tr to tease or ridicule
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a joke or hoax
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rib

/ rĭb /

  1. Any of a series of long, curved bones extending from the spine and enclosing the chest cavity. In mammals, reptiles, and birds, the ribs curve toward the center of the chest and in most cases attach to the sternum (breastbone). There are 12 pairs of ribs in humans.
  2. See more at skeleton
  3. One of the main veins of a leaf.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈribless, adjective
  • ˈribˌlike, adjective
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Other Words From

  • rib·ber noun
  • rib·less adjective
  • rib·like adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rib1

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English rib(b); cognate with Old Frisian rib, reb, Old Icelandic rif, German Rippe; akin to Russian rebró “rib,” Greek orophḗ “roof, ceiling”

Origin of rib2

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; probably from rib 1( def ) (because tickling the ribs provokes laughter)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rib1

Old English ribb ; related to Old High German rippi , Old Norse rif reef 1

Origin of rib2

C20: short for rib-tickle (vb)
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Idioms and Phrases

see stick to the ribs .
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Example Sentences

Zuraya Hadad instinctively winces as we watch a video of the incident in which her ribs were broken by a masked man wielding a large stick.

From BBC

Early last year, Leno crashed his motorcycle and wound up with a broken collarbone, two broken ribs and two cracked kneecaps.

It began with a bicycle crash in June 2023 when I broke 10 ribs - but that led to me discovering a much bigger health challenge.

From BBC

Tufts of black lambswool and recycled nylon sprout up in contrast to the conventional ribbed beanie brim, an homage to the overactive crown chakra that is every Sagittarian’s secret weapon and downfall.

"It sucked I lost. I knew he was one of the best of all time. Came strong. I felt good. I was blocking and he caught me in the ribs," said Miocic.

From BBC

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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