rib1(rib),USA pronunciationn., v.,ribbed, rib•bing. n.
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. See diag. under skeleton.
a cut of meat, as beef, containing a rib. See diag. under beef.
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, 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, Naval Termsany 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.
Textilesa vertical ridge in cloth, esp. in knitted fabrics.
Textilesa ridge, as in poplin or rep, caused by heavy yarn.
a wife (in humorous allusion to the creation of Eve. Gen. 2:21–22).
Ceramicsa 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.
v.t.
to furnish or strengthen with ribs.
to enclose as with ribs.
to mark with riblike ridges or markings.
bef. 900; Middle English, Old English rib(b); cognate with German Rippe
rib′ber, n. rib′less, adj. rib′like′, adj.
rib2(rib),USA pronunciationv.t.,ribbed, rib•bing.
to tease; make fun of.
apparently short for rib-tickle (verb, verbal) 1925–30, American.
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 Comparetrue 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 an aircraft's 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 fabric See alsoribbing
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 projecting ridge of a mountain; spur
vb (ribs, ribbing, ribbed) (transitive)
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)
Etymology: Old English ribb; related to Old High German rippi, Old Norse rifreef1ˈriblessadj
rib/rɪb/informalvb (ribs, ribbing, ribbed)
(transitive) to tease or ridicule
Etymology: 20th Century: short for rib-tickle (vb)
'ribbed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):