rib

Etymology

From Middle English rib, ribbe, from Old English ribb (“rib”), from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ- (“arch, ceiling, cover”).

Cognate with Dutch rib (“rib”), Low German ribbe (“rib”), German Rippe (“rib”), Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), Serbo-Croatian rebro (“rib”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪb/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪb

Noun

rib (plural ribs)

1. Any of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and other animals and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum
2. A part or piece, similar to a rib, and serving to shape or support something
3. A cut of meat enclosing one or more rib bones
4. (nautical) Any of several curved members attached to a ship's keel and extending upward and outward to form the framework of the hull
5. Any of several transverse pieces that provide an aircraft wing with shape and strength
6. (architecture) A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault
7. (knitting) A raised ridge in knitted material or in cloth
8. (botany) The main, or any of the prominent veins of a leaf
9. A teasing joke
10. (Ireland, colloquial) A single strand of hair.
11. A stalk of celery.
12. (archaic, literary, humorous) A wife or woman.
    • George Borrow, Wild Wales, 1862:

      'Near to it was the portrait of his rib, Dame Middleton.'

Verb

rib (third-person singular simple present ribs, present participle ribbing, simple past and past participle ribbed)

1. To shape, support, or provide something with a rib or ribs.
2. To tease or make fun of someone in a good-natured way.

   He always gets ribbed for his outrageous shirts.

3. To enclose, as if with ribs, and protect; to shut in.
   • Shakespeare

     It [lead] were too gross / To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.

4. (transitive) To leave strips of undisturbed ground between the furrows in ploughing (land).

Anagrams

• Bri, IBR, IRB, RBI

Etymology

From Middle Dutch ribbe, from Old Dutch *ribba, from Proto-Germanic *ribjō.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

rib m (plural ribben, diminutive ribje n)

1. rib

   Je kunt haar ribben tellen. ― You can count her ribs.

   Dat is een rib uit mijn lijf. ― That's a rib from my body.

2. a truss (wooden frame)

Verb

rib (past rib, future ribidh, verbal noun ribeadh, past participle ribte)

1. trap, ensnare

Adverb

rib

1. very