Etymology : Middle English, from Old English ribb; akin to Old High German rippi rib, Old Church Slavonic rebro, and probably to Greek erephein to roof over
Pronunciation : 'rib
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. any of the curved bones which form the rib cage; support which resembles a rib bone; central vein of a leaf; lengthwise ridge (in fabric, etc.). install ribs, strengthen with ribs; tease, mock, make fun of. rib\rib\ , n. [as. rib, ribb; akin to d. rib, g. rippe, ohg. rippa, rippi, dan. ribbe, icel. rif, russ. rebro.].
2. (anat.) one of the curved bones attached to the vertebral column and supporting the lateral walls of the thorax.note: in man there are twelve ribs on each side, of which the upper seven are directly connected with the sternum by cartilages, and are called sternal, or true, ribs. the remaining five pairs are called asternal, or false, ribs, and of these each of the three upper pairs is attached to the cartilage of the rib above, while the two lower pairs are free at the ventral ends, and are called floating ribs. see:
thorax.
3. that which resembles a rib in form or use. specifically: (a) (shipbuilding) one of the timbers, or bars of iron or steel, that branch outward and upward from the keel, to support the skin or planking, and give shape and strength to the vessel. (b) (mach. & structures) a ridge, fin, or wing, as on a plate, cylinder, beam, etc., to strengthen or stiffen it. (c) one of the rods on which the cover of an umbrella is extended. (d) a prominent line or ridge, as in cloth. (e) a longitudinal strip of metal uniting the barrels of a double-barreled gun.
4. (bot.) the chief nerve, or one of the chief nerves, of a leaf. (b) any longitudinal ridge in a plant.
5. (arch.) (a) in gothic vaulting, one of the primary members of the vault. these are strong arches, meeting and crossing one another, dividing the whole space into triangles, which are then filled by vaulted construction of lighter material. hence, an imitation of one of these in wood, plaster, or the like. (b) a projecting mold, or group of moldings, forming with others a pattern, as on a ceiling, ornamental door, or the like.
6. (mining) (a) solid coal on the side of a gallery; solid ore in a vein. (b) an elongated pillar of ore or coal left as a support. mond.
7. a wife; -- in allusion to eve, as made out of adam's rib. [familiar & sportive] how many have we known whose heads have been broken with their own rib. hall.
8. One of the curved bones attached to the vertebral column and supporting the lateral walls of the thorax.
9. That which resembles a rib in form or use.
10. One of the timbers, or bars of iron or steel, that branch outward and upward from the keel, to support the skin or planking, and give shape and strength to the vessel.
11. A ridge, fin, or wing, as on a plate, cylinder, beam, etc., to strengthen or stiffen it.
12. One of the rods on which the cover of an umbrella is extended.
13. A prominent line or ridge, as in cloth.
14. A longitudinal strip of metal uniting the barrels of a double-barreled gun.
15. The chief nerve, or one of the chief nerves, of a leaf.
16. Any longitudinal ridge in a plant.
17. In Gothic vaulting, one of the primary members of the vault.
18. These are strong arches, meeting and crossing one another, dividing the whole space into triangles, which are then filled by vaulted construction of lighter material.
19. Hence, an imitation of one of these in wood, plaster, or the like.
20. A projecting mold, or group of moldings, forming with others a pattern, as on a ceiling, ornamental door, or the like.
21. Solid coal on the side of a gallery; solid ore in a vein.
22. An elongated pillar of ore or coal left as a support.
23. A wife; in allusion to Eve, as made out of Adam's rib.
24. To furnish with ribs; to form with rising lines and channels; as, to rib cloth.
25. To inclose, as with ribs, and protect; to shut in. support resembling the rib of an animal a projecting molding on the underside of a vault or ceiling; may be ornamental or structural a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant any of the 12 pairs of curved arches of bone extending from the spine to or toward the sternum in humans a teasing remark cut of meat including one or more ribs form vertical ribs by knitting; "A ribbed sweater".
26. 1. Your ribs are the 12 pairs of curved bones that surround your chest. Her heart was thumping against her ribs.
27. A rib of meat such as beef or pork is a piece that has been cut to include one of the animal's ribs. a rib of beef.
28. If you rib someone about something, you tease them about it in a friendly way. The guys in my local pub used to rib me about drinking `girly' drinks. = tease see also:
ribbed, ribbing. ribbed ribbing to make jokes and laugh at someone so that you embarrass them, but in a friendly way = tease.