rib

Meaning

Noun

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. (broadly) 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. 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. A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault
7. A strip of metal running along the top of the barrel that serves as a sighting plane.
8. A raised ridge in knitted material or in cloth.
9. The main, or any of the prominent veins of a leaf.
10. A teasing joke.
11. (Ireland, colloquial) A single strand of hair.
12. A stalk of celery.
13. (archaic, humorous, literary) A wife or woman.

Verb

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.
3. To enclose, as if with ribs, and protect; to shut in.
4. (transitive) To leave strips of undisturbed ground between the furrows in ploughing (land).

Synonyms

ribs

side

vein

frame

tease

costa

edge

rib cage

nervure

blackguard

ridge

ridicule

poke fun

rib bone

roast

chaff

laugh at

kid

🧒

make fun

make fun of

flank

chest

guy

rag

banter

jest at

spoke

tantalise

tantalize

taunt

tendon

threaten

torso

vas

veining

vertebra

vessel

web

branch off

side of the body

arris

sidebone

fibre

wing rib

trimming knife

costae rib

badger

🦡

os costale

bait

balk

Translations

côte

costilla

Rippe

costola

costela

rib

costella

πλευρό

kaburga

costa

ضلع

nervatura

ribbe

costa

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪb/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: rib

Inherited from Old English: ribb

Cognate with Dutch: rib

Cognate with Norwegian: ribbe

Cognate with Norwegian: ribben

Cognate with Low German: ribbe

Cognate with German: Rippe

Cognate with Old Norse: rif

Cognate with Serbo-Croatian: rèbro

Inherited from Middle English: ribbe

Inherited from Old English: ribbe

In summary

From Middle English rib, ribbe, from Old English ribb (“rib”), from Proto-West Germanic *ribi, from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ- (“arch, ceiling, cover”).
Cognate with Dutch rib (“rib”), Norwegian ribbe (“sparerib”), Norwegian ribben (“rib”), Low German ribbe (“rib”), German Rippe (“rib”), Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), Serbo-Croatian rèbro (“rib”).
(wife or woman): In reference to the creation of Eve from Adam's rib in the Bible.