A ribbon is a long, narrow piece of cloth that you use for tying things together or as a decoration.
She had tied back her hair with a peach satin ribbon.
...a piece of ribbon.
2. countable noun
A typewriter or printer ribbon is a long, narrow piece of cloth containing ink and is used in a typewriter or printer.
3. countable noun
A ribbon is a small decorative strip of cloth which is given to someone to wear on their clothes as an award or to show that they are linked with a particular organization.
ribbon in British English
(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
verb(transitive)
8.
to adorn with a ribbon or ribbons
9.
to mark with narrow ribbon-like marks
10.
to reduce to ribbons; tear into strips
Derived forms
ribbon-like (ˈribbon-ˌlike) or ribbony (ˈribbony)
adjective
Word origin
C14 ryban, from Old French riban, apparently of Germanic origin; probably related to ring1, band2
ribbon in American English
(ˈrɪbən)
noun
1.
a.
a narrow strip of silk, rayon, velvet, etc. finished at the edges and of various widths, used for decoration, tying things, etc.
b.
material in such strips
2.
anything suggesting such a strip
a ribbon of blue sky
3. [pl.]
torn strips or shreds; tatters
a garment torn to ribbons
4. US
a narrow strip of inked cloth or plastic against which type characters strike for printing, as in a typewriter
5.
a.
a small strip of colored cloth worn as a badge or awarded as a prize, symbol of honor or achievement, etc.
b. Military
a strip of cloth, often of many colors, worn on the left breast of the uniform to indicate an award of a decoration or medal
6. [pl.]; Informal
reins used in driving
verb transitive
7.
to decorate, trim, or mark with or as with a ribbon or ribbons
8.
to split or tear into ribbonlike strips or shreds
verb intransitive
9.
to extend or form in a ribbonlike strip or strips
Derived forms
ribbonlike (ˈribbonˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME riban < MFr riban, ruban < ? MDu ringband, collar < ring, ring2 + band, akin to band1
Examples of 'ribbon' in a sentence
ribbon
Cut the tofu into 2cm cubes and peel the carrot lengthways into long ribbons.
The Sun (2016)
Hundreds of wellwishers turned out to cheer their heroine as she crossed the pink ribbon.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We loved pink nails and ribbons in our hair.
The Sun (2011)
Do not use ribbon round the neck.
The Sun (2015)
They are also tying yellow ribbons to trees to highlight their cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Secure the cover with ribbons for decoration.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We are asking men to wear a purple ribbon.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thread narrow ribbon or string sprayed gold through the holes and hang them from the tree.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It came with a large red ribbon tied around its nose.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He will then pull these ribbons from her hair and run away with them.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
She got a yellow ribbon and tied it around her head.
The Sun (2009)
The face of human progress wears bright ribbons in its hair and swings a bag of books.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It could be the lack of pink satin ribbons to tie round my ankle for the pas de deux.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My hair was piled high in curls and a narrow ribbon was tied round my long and slender neck.
Amanda Mackenzie Stuart Consuelo & Alva: Love and Power in the Gilded Age (2005)
Garnish with pineapple, berries and fine ribbons of lemon zest and serve.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Slice the peppers in 5cm long ribbons.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Something that comes in a pleasing box, with a shiny satin ribbon.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When it comes to relationships, birthday presents are booby traps wrapped in red ribbons.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was really special - and we noticed straight away that they were wrapped in pink ribbons.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The difference is that the hooks used in the ribbon lift dissolve after a couple of months, whereas the thread lift stays put.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Use enough wire to go round a couple of times, fasten it, then wrap some ribbon or cloth around it to cover up any scratchy bits.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
ribbon
waterfall
In other languages
ribbon
British English: ribbon /ˈrɪbn/ NOUN
A ribbon is a long, narrow piece of cloth used as a fastening or decoration, for example on a birthday present.
the ribbon in a typewriter which contains the ink which produces the letters on paper
fabric ribbon
a typewriter ribbon made of inked material
ribbon strip
a timber board forming the top rail of a fence or balustrade
ribbon window
a long window made up of a number of individual compartments set together horizontally with little or no division
ribbon-cutting
a ceremony marking the official opening of a site, the commencement of its construction , etc., typically involving the cutting of a ribbon suspended as across an entrance
ribbon development
the building of houses in a continuous row along a main road: common in England between the two World Wars
ribbon microphone
a type of microphone in which the conductor is a thin ribbon of aluminium alloy moving perpendicularly in a magnetic field . It is strongly directional and can be used to reduce unwanted side noise
blue-ribbon jury
(formerly) a jury whose members were drawn from some profession or rank of society as well as possessing the usual qualifications for jury service
nemertean
any soft flattened ribbon-like marine worm of the phylum (or class) Nemertea (or Nemertina ), having an eversible threadlike proboscis
ledger board
a timber board forming the top rail of a fence or balustrade