Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense ribs, present participle ribbing, past tense, past participle ribbed
1. countable noun
Your ribs are the 12 pairs of curved bones that surround your chest.
Her heart was thumping against her ribs.
My face was covered with bruises and I had a broken rib.
2. countable noun [noun NOUN]
A ribof meat such as beef or pork is a piece that has been cut to include one of the animal's ribs.
...a rib of beef. [+ of]
...pork ribs in sweet sauce.
3. uncountable noun
Rib is a method of knitting that makes a raised pattern of parallel lines. You use rib, for example, round the edge of sweaters so that the material can stretch without losing its shape.
4. verb
If you rib someone about something, you tease them about it in a friendly way.
[informal]
The guys in my local pub used to rib me about drinking 'girly' drinks. [VERB noun]
5. See also ribbed, ribbing
rib in British English1
(rɪb)
noun
1.
any of the 24 curved elastic arches of bone that together form the chest wall in humans. All are attached behind to the thoracic part of the spinal column
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 (sense 3)
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
verbWord forms: ribs, ribbing or ribbed(transitive)
14.
to furnish or support with a rib or ribs
15.
to mark with or form into ribs or ridges
16.
to knit plain and purl stitches alternately in order to make raised rows in (knitting)
17. archaic
to enclose with or as if with ribs
Derived forms
ribless (ˈribless)
adjective
riblike (ˈribˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English ribb; related to Old High German rippi, Old Norse rifreef1
rib in British English2
(rɪb) informal
verbWord forms: ribs, ribbing or ribbed
1. (transitive)
to tease or ridicule
noun
2.
a joke or hoax
Word origin
C20: short for rib-tickle (vb)
rib in American English
(rɪb)
noun
1.
any of the arched bones attached posteriorly to the vertebral column and enclosingthe chest cavity: in humans there are twelve pairs of such bones
2.
a.
a cut of meat having one or more ribs
b. [pl.]
spareribs
3.
a wife
in humorous reference to the Biblical creation of Eve from Adam's rib (Gen. 2:21-22)
4.
a raised ridge in cloth, esp. in knitted material
5.
any of the curved crosspieces extending from the keel to the top of the hull in a ship, forming its framework
6.
the structural crosspieces attached to a spar for shaping and strengthening an airplane wing
7.
any narrow riblike piece used to form, strengthen, or shape something
a rib of an umbrella
8. Slang
a.
a teasing or bantering remark or action
b.
a satire or parody
9. Architecture
a.
a long curved piece in an arch
b.
any of the transverse and intersecting arches of a vault
10. Botany
any of the main veins in a leaf
verb transitiveWord forms: ribbed or ˈribbing
11.
to provide, form, or strengthen with a rib or ribs
12.
to put ribs in; mark with ribs
13. Slang
to tease or make fun of; kid
Word origin
ME ribbe < OE rib, akin to ON rif, Ger rippe < IE base *rebh-, to arch over, roof over > Gr ereptein, to crown, OSlav rebro, rib; (sense 13) prob. < rib-tickle
Examples of 'rib' in a sentence
rib
It feels like a gorilla is playing the drums in my rib cage.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The other reason for the popularity of short ribs is price.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Season the beef rib with salt and pepper and place in the hot pan.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She was rushed to hospital with fractured ribs and a damaged lung.
The Sun (2013)
She fractured three ribs through coughing so much.
The Sun (2012)
An awkward rib of rock divided the lake in two.
Chapman, Philip Caves and Cave Life (1993)
One possibility is inflammation of the muscles attached to your rib cage.
The Sun (2016)
The beef short ribs there are a sensation.
The Sun (2014)
An epic performance from a man with two fractured ribs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.
The Sun (2009)
Season the short ribs and add to the pan.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Make sure you tuck into some spare Rib in the first race.
The Sun (2016)
He escaped with fractured ribs, cuts and bruises.
The Sun (2006)
The mighty steak is aged for 14 and sold with the rib bone intact for enhanced flavour.
The Sun (2016)
We might do braised beef short rib, dressed cauliflower or cod cakes in a spicy tomato sauce.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We're wearing ours with straight cords, a ribbed knit and a textured tweed jacket.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's perfect for glazing sticky ribs, chicken wings and veggie skewers before cooking them on the hot coals.
The Sun (2016)
For day, you can layer it with knits and ribbed grey woolly tights - a key trend for legs this winter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
rib
architectural features, bone, knit
In other languages
rib
British English: rib /rɪb/ NOUN
Your ribs are the curved bones that go from your backbone around your chest.
Her heart was thumping against her ribs.
American English: rib
Arabic: ضِلْع
Brazilian Portuguese: costela
Chinese: 肋骨
Croatian: rebro
Czech: žebro
Danish: ribben
Dutch: rib
European Spanish: costilla
Finnish: kylkiluu
French: côte
German: Rippe
Greek: παΐδι
Italian: costola
Japanese: 肋骨
Korean: 늑골
Norwegian: ribbe
Polish: żebro
European Portuguese: costela
Romanian: coastă
Russian: ребро
Latin American Spanish: costilla
Swedish: revben
Thai: ซี่โครง
Turkish: kaburga
Ukrainian: ребро
Vietnamese: xương sườn
All related terms of 'rib'
rib eye
a large beefsteak cut from the outer, or eye, side of the ribs
prime rib
a choice cut of beef consisting of the seven ribs immediately before the loin
rib cage
Your rib cage is the structure of ribs in your chest . It protects your lungs and other organs .
rib roast
a cut of meat taken from the ribs cooked by roasting
rib steak
See club steak
true rib
any of the upper seven pairs of ribs in humans
rib-tickler
a very amusing joke or story
floating rib
any rib of the lower two pairs of ribs in humans , which are not attached to the breastbone
rib-tickling
very amusing ; causing laughter
rib-eye (steak)
a beefsteak cut from the rib section , with the bone removed
skinny-rib jumper
a tight-fitting ribbed woollen jumper or pullover
skinny-rib sweater
a tight-fitting ribbed woollen jumper or pullover
ribbed vault
a vault supported by or decorated with diagonal ribs