rib

[ rib ]

/ rɪb /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rib ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

a cut of meat, as beef, containing a rib.

ribs, spareribs(def 2).

Architecture.

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.
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.

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

a structural member that supports the shape of something: an umbrella rib.

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

a stiffening beam cast as part of a concrete slab.

a primary vein of a leaf.

a vertical ridge in cloth, especially in knitted fabrics.

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

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

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

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

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

verb (used with object), ribbed, rib·bing.

to furnish or strengthen with ribs.

to enclose as with ribs.

to mark with riblike ridges or markings.

Nearby words

rialto, riant, riantly, riata, riau archipelago, rib, rib cage, rib eye, rib roast, rib steak, rib-knit

Origin of rib

before 900; Middle English, Old English rib(b); cognate with German Rippe

Related formsrib·ber, nounrib·less, adjectiverib·like, adjective

Definition for rib (2 of 2)

rib

[ rib ]

/ rɪb /

verb (used with object), ribbed, rib·bing.

to tease; make fun of.

Origin of rib

1925–30, Americanism; apparently short for rib-tickle (v.)

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

Examples from the Web for rib

French and Crown one rib rack and season with salt and pepper, cover exposed bones with foil, cook in oven at 350 for 2.5 hours.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship|Harley Morenstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This must be from the early ‘40s, the Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, Adam’s Rib.
How I Write: Richard Posner|Noah Charney|November 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Or that food thermometers can end up contaminating your rib roast?
This Week’s Hot Reads: Nov. 19, 2012|Nicholas Mancusi, Jimmy So|November 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Goalkeeper Tim Howard has officially been passed fit to face Slovenia after sustaining a rib injury in the England game.
World Cup Primer|Joshua Robinson|June 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST

“I got a scratch on my rib cage and on a breast” she said, matter-of-factly.
Marina Abramovic's Full-Frontal Art|Anthony Haden-Guest|March 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But there was only one rib broke, and I guess it healed all right, because she was young and tough.
Swatty|Ellis Parker Butler
The pistol shot had only broken a rib, and he had finished the work with a dagger.
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
RIB—That part of man's self of which he thinks the least and brags the most.
A Guide to Men|Helen Rowland
Will Craine, who trained ye Cheshire hounds, came in twelfth on Rib.
Old Country Inns of England|Henry P. Maskell
Distance between head and tubercle greater on second rib than on first, and on third is greater than on second.
The Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphidae|Frederick True

British Dictionary definitions for rib (1 of 2)

rib

/ (rɪb) /

noun

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 columnTechnical name: costa Compare true rib, false ribs, floating rib

the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

a cut of meat including one or more ribs

a part or element similar in function or appearance to a rib, esp a structural or supporting member or a raised strip or ridge

a structural member in a wing that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge and maintains the shape of the wing surface

a projecting moulding or band on the underside of a vault or ceiling, which may be structural or ornamental

one of a series of raised rows in knitted fabricSee also ribbing (def. 3)

a raised ornamental line on the spine of a book where the stitching runs across it

any of the transverse stiffening timbers or joists forming the frame of a ship's hull

any of the larger veins of a leaf

a metal strip running along the top of the barrel of a shotgun or handgun and guiding the alignment of the sights

a vein of ore in rock

a projecting ridge of a mountain; spur

verb ribs, ribbing or ribbed (tr)

to furnish or support with a rib or ribs

to mark with or form into ribs or ridges

to knit plain and purl stitches alternately in order to make raised rows in (knitting)

archaic to enclose with or as if with ribs

Derived Formsribless, adjectiveriblike, adjective

Word Origin for rib

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

British Dictionary definitions for rib (2 of 2)

rib

/ (rɪb) informal /

verb ribs, ribbing or ribbed

(tr) to tease or ridicule

noun

a joke or hoax

Word Origin for rib

C20: short for rib-tickle (vb)

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 rib (1 of 2)

rib

Old English ribb "rib," from Proto-Germanic *rebja- (cf. Old Norse rif, Old Saxon ribbi, Old Frisian ribb, Middle Dutch, Dutch ribbe, Old High German ribba, German Rippe), literally "a covering" (of the cavity of the chest), from PIE *rebh- "to roof, cover" (cf. Greek ereptein "to roof," Old Church Slavonic rebro "rib, reef"). As an item of food from early 15c. Rib joint "brothel" is slang from 1943, probably in reference to Adam's rib (cf. rib "woman, wife," attested from 1580s).

Word Origin and History for rib (1 of 2)

rib

"tease, fool," 1930, apparently from rib (n.); perhaps as a figurative suggestion of poking someone in the ribs. Related: Ribbed; ribbing.

Medicine definitions for rib

rib

[ rĭb ]

n.

One of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum.

Science definitions for rib

rib

[ rĭb ]

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. See more at skeleton.

One of the main veins of a leaf.

Idioms and Phrases with rib

rib

see stick to the ribs.

rib

noun

verb (used with object), ribbed, rib·bing.

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Nearby words

Origin of rib

Definition for rib (2 of 2)

rib

verb (used with object), ribbed, rib·bing.

Origin of rib

Examples from the Web for rib

British Dictionary definitions for rib (1 of 2)

rib

noun

verb ribs, ribbing or ribbed (tr)

Word Origin for rib

British Dictionary definitions for rib (2 of 2)

rib

verb ribs, ribbing or ribbed

noun

Word Origin for rib

Word Origin and History for rib (1 of 2)

rib

Word Origin and History for rib (1 of 2)

rib

Medicine definitions for rib

rib

n.

Science definitions for rib

rib

Idioms and Phrases with rib

rib