noun
rib
rihb
noun
1
One of the curved bones that run from the spine around toward the breastbone, forming the cage that protects the chest.
"The X-ray showed a hairline fracture in one of his ribs."
"She could feel her ribs after months of illness."
2
A cut of meat that still has one or more rib bones in it.
"We ordered a rack of ribs at the barbecue place."
"The prime rib was the highlight of the Christmas dinner."
3
A supporting structural piece shaped like a rib, such as in a ship's hull, an aircraft wing, or an umbrella.
"Shipwrights bent the wooden ribs before attaching the planking."
"One of the umbrella's ribs had snapped in the wind."
verb
1
To tease someone in a friendly, good-natured way.
"His friends ribbed him mercilessly about the missed penalty."
"Don't take it personally, we're just ribbing you."
How to Use Rib
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA curved bone in the chest, a rib-shaped cut of meat, a supporting structural piece, or (as a verb) to gently tease someone.
Common pairings
broken rib
rack of ribs
rib someone about
Word Forms
ribbed past tense, ribs plural, ribs plural, ribs singular
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The X-ray showed a hairline fracture in one of his _____.
Etymology
From Old English ribb, going back to a very old Germanic word for "rib." The slang sense meaning "a wife" comes from the Bible story of Eve being formed from Adam's rib.