lib

[lib]

noun Informal.

liberation(def 2): women's lib; gay lib.

a libber.

Origin of lib

First recorded in 1965–70; by shortening

lib.

book.

Origin of lib.

From the Latin word liber

lib.

librarian.

library.

Lib.

Liberal.

ad lib

[ad lib, ad]

noun

something improvised in speech, music, etc.: Was that joke part of your speech or an ad lib?

adverb

at one's pleasure; without restriction.

freely; as needed; without stint: Water can be given to the patients ad lib.

Origin of ad lib

First recorded in 1810–20; see origin at ad libitum

ad lib.

ad libitum.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lib

Contemporary Examples of lib

Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister, attacked the Conservatives for their predictable response to the report.
Britain Admits Anti-Drug Laws Are Useless
Nico Hines
October 30, 2014
In contrast to that finale, That Girl ends with Ann Marie taking her fiancé to a Women's Lib meeting.
Marlo Thomas Says Girls Should Feel Free to Be Like Hannah Horvath
Emily Shire
April 24, 2014
Some Lib Dem supporters sought to dismiss the allegations as overblown.
Britain's Liberal Democrats Need a Sexual Harassment Training
David Frum
February 26, 2013
In London, the Lib Dem mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, came in fourth place behind the Green Party candidate, Jenny Jones.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson Survives Unexpectedly Close Vote
Peter Jukes
May 5, 2012
She was in New York during the swinging ‘60s—and a well-respected female editor during the years of Women’s Lib.
The Empress of Fashion’s Legacy
Isabel Wilkinson
September 2, 2011

Historical Examples of lib

We crept to the back of the bower, and Lib leaned over and looked in.
Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad
Various
Scævolæ Sammarthani, Elogia doctorum in Gallia virorum, lib.
The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Henry Martyn Baird
Then after awhile I strolls down to the lib'ry and makes myself to home some more.
Torchy
Sewell Ford
They bunched together panicky and started back for the lib'ry.
Torchy, Private Sec.
Sewell Ford
But there's someone in the lib'ry you could soothe with a word or two maybe.
Torchy, Private Sec.
Sewell Ford

British Dictionary definitions for lib

lib

noun

informal, sometimes derogatory short for liberation (def. 2)

lib.

abbreviation for

librarian

library

Lib.

abbreviation for

Liberal

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

Word Origin and History for lib

1969, American English, shortening of liberation, used with possessives, originally in Women's Lib. Colloquial shortening libber for liberationist is attested from 1971.

ad lib

1811, shortened from Latin ad libitum "at one's pleasure, as much as one likes" (c.1600), from libere "to please" (see libido). First recorded as one word 1919 (v.), 1925 (n.).

lib in Medicine

ad lib.

abbr.

ad libitum (freely, as desired)