ribbon

American  

[rib-uhn] / ˈrɪb ən /

noun

1. a woven strip or band of fine material, as silk or rayon, varying in width and finished off at the edges, used for ornament, tying, etc.

2. material in such strips.

3. anything resembling or suggesting a ribbon or woven band.

4. a band of inked material used in a typewriter, adding machine, etc., that supplies ink for printing the figure on the striking typeface onto the paper beneath.

5. a strip of material, as satin or rayon, being or representing a medal or similar decoration, especially a military one.

   an overseas ribbon.

6. ribbons,

   1. torn or ragged strips; shreds.

      clothes torn to ribbons.

   2. reins for driving.

7. a long, thin flexible band of metal, as for a spring, a band saw, or a tapeline.

8. Also called ribbon board.  Also called ledger, ledger board.  Also called ribbon strip,.  Carpentry. Also a thin horizontal piece attached to studding to support the ends of joists.

9. Architecture. came.

10. Nautical. Also a distinctive narrow band or stripe painted along the exterior of a hull.

11. Shipbuilding. ribband.

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verb (used with object)

1. to adorn with ribbon.

2. to mark with something suggesting ribbon.

3. to separate into ribbonlike strips.

verb (used without object)

1. to form in ribbonlike strips.

ribbon British  

/ ˈrɪbən /

noun

1. a narrow strip of fine material, esp silk, used for trimming, tying, etc

2. something resembling a ribbon; a long strip

   a ribbon of land

3. a long thin flexible band of metal used as a graduated measure, spring, etc

4. a long narrow strip of ink-impregnated cloth for making the impression of type characters on paper in a typewriter or similar device

5. (plural) ragged strips or shreds (esp in the phrase torn to ribbons )

6. a small strip of coloured cloth signifying membership of an order or award of military decoration, prize, or other distinction

7. a small, usually looped, strip of coloured cloth worn to signify support for a charity or cause

   a red AIDS ribbon

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verb

1. to adorn with a ribbon or ribbons

2. to mark with narrow ribbon-like marks

3. to reduce to ribbons; tear into strips

Other Word Forms

• ribbon-like adjective
• ribbonlike adjective
• ribbony adjective
• unribboned adjective

Etymology

Origin of ribbon

First recorded in 1520–30; variant of Middle English riban(d), from Old French, variant of r(e)uban, perhaps from Germanic; see band ²

Example Sentences

Encased in blue chalcedony, set with diamonds and hung from a black silk ribbon, the piece is a contemporary interpretation of Baillères’ Mexican heritage.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Rubino said she’ll tie the clothing items up with a colorful ribbon to “make sure it fits with the aesthetic.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

It should carry a thick streusel crown and a deep ribbon of cinnamon without collapsing under their weight.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Lancashire, who appeared at the hearing via a video link from HMP Peterborough, wore her brown hair in pigtails - one tied with a pink ribbon and one with a blue ribbon.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

I wagged it around, streaming the lines of water out like a ribbon.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• bow
• decoration
• streamer
• strip
• stripe
• tape