ribbon

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A long, narrow strip of material used for decoration of clothing or the hair or gift wrapping.
2. (countable, uncountable) An awareness ribbon.
3. (countable, uncountable) An inked strip of material against which type is pressed to print letters in a typewriter or printer.
4. (countable, uncountable) A narrow strip or shred.
5. (countable, uncountable) A narrow strip or shred.
6. (alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of ribband.
7. (countable, uncountable) A painted moulding on the side of a ship.
8. (countable, uncountable) A watchspring.
9. (countable, uncountable) A bandsaw.
10. (countable, dated, in-plural, slang, uncountable) Reins for a horse.
11. (countable, uncountable) A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth as wide.
12. (countable, uncountable) A sliver.
13. (countable, uncountable) A subheadline presented above its parent headline.
14. (countable, uncountable) A toolbar that incorporates tabs and menus.
15. (countable) An apparatus with a handle and a long narrow strip of fabric.
16. (countable, metonymically, uncountable) An apparatus with a handle and a long narrow strip of fabric.

Verb

1. (transitive) To decorate with ribbon.
2. (transitive) To stripe or streak.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹɪbən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: riban

Cognate with French: ruban

Cognate with English: band

Cognate with Middle Dutch: ringhband

In summary

From Middle English riban, ryban, ryband, from Old French riban, ruban ( > modern French ruban), of uncertain origin. Likely from a Germanic compound whose second element is cognate with English band. Compare Middle Dutch ringhband (“necklace”, literally “ring-band”).

Synonyms

tape

band

belt

strip

string

🪢

girdle

thread

🧵

tie

bow

🙇

decoration

lace

cordon

twine

typewriter ribbon

cord

sash

laurel wreath

medallion

strap

shred

medal

silk cord

lath

fillet

palm

thong

film

📽️

braid

riband

knot

🪢

rob

rope

🪢

row

shoelace

silk

slab

slat

slip

stave

streamer

stripe

stripped

swath

swathe

tab

taenia

tapeworm

turban

webbing

whip

Translations

nastro

🎀

ruban

cinta

🎀

wstążka

Band

lint

🎀

fita

fettuccia

band

κορδέλα

şerit

bande

ταινία

listón

fiocco

🙇