rib

¹ American  

[rib] / rɪb /

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. ribs, spareribs.

4. 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.

5. something resembling a rib in form, position, or use, as a supporting or strengthening part.

6. a structural member that supports the shape of something.

   an umbrella rib.

7. Nautical. any of the curved framing members in a ship's hull that rise upward and outward from the keel; frame.

8. a stiffening beam cast as part of a concrete slab.

9. a primary vein of a leaf.

10. a vertical ridge in cloth, especially in knitted fabrics.

11. a ridge, as in poplin or rep, caused by heavy yarn.

12. a wife (in humorous allusion to the creation of Eve. Genesis 2:21–22).

13. Ceramics. a scraper for smoothing clay being thrown on a potter's wheel.

14. a metal ridge running along the top of the barrel of a firearm to simplify aligning the sights.

15. a longitudinal strip of metal joining the barrels of a double-barreled gun.

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verb (used with object)

ribbed, ribbing

1. to furnish or strengthen with ribs.

2. to enclose as with ribs.

3. to mark with riblike ridges or markings.

rib ² American  

[rib] / rɪb /

verb (used with object)

ribbed, ribbing

1. to tease; make fun of.

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rib ¹ British  

/ rɪb /

noun

1. Technical name: costa.  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 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

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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

rib ² British  

/ rɪb /

verb

1. (tr) to tease or ridicule

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noun

1. a joke or hoax

rib Scientific  

/ 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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rib Idioms  

1. see stick to the ribs.

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Other Word Forms

• ribber
  noun
• ribless
  adjective
• riblike
  adjective

Etymology

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)

Explanation

A rib is a curved bone in a person's chest. Your ribs protect your internal organs. A rib is also the curved bone in a pig’s chest, and some people eat that with barbeque sauce. Ribs are strong and flexible, and they form a kind of protective cage around our soft inside parts. Animals have ribs, too — fish even have two sets of ribs. If you're a meat eater, you probably know that pigs and cows have ribs that are a popular menu item at barbecue restaurants. Things that resemble anatomical ribs, like raised rows in a knitted garment — are also called ribs. And to rib someone is to tease them.

Example Sentences

We walked past a board listing the staff-supplied names of Chili’s conference rooms: Be Our Guest, the Rib Crib, Check Please.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2025

Rib injuries, including muscular pain, stress fractures and bone breaks, can be common for women in elite rowing, but not always at the rate Scott was suffering.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2023

Instead, Lawry’s The Prime Rib steakhouse will put together takeout meals for both teams.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2021

Rib chops are cut from the rack: the primal cut from the upper part of the spine, below the shoulder.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2021

Negotiations were entered into between Eagle Rib and Running Deer for an amicable settlement of the matter.

From The Warden of the Plains and Other Stories of Life in the Canadian North-west by Maclean, John