rib

rib [rib]

n.

[ME ribbe < OE rib, akin to ON rif, Ger rippe < IE base * rebh-, to arch over, roof over > Gr ereptein, to crown, OSlav rebro, rib]

1. any of the arched bones attached posteriorly to the vertebral column and enclosing the chest cavity: in humans there are twelve pairs of such bones: see TRUE RIBS, FALSE RIBS, FLOATING RIBS, and SKELETON

2.

a) a cut of meat having one or more ribs

b) [pl.] short for SPARERIBS

3. a wife: in humorous reference to the Biblical creation of Eve from Adam's rib (Gen. 2:21-22)

4. a raised ridge in cloth, esp. in knitted material

5. any of the curved crosspieces extending from the keel to the top of the hull in a ship, forming its framework

6. the structural crosspieces attached to a spar for shaping and strengthening an airplane wing

7. any narrow riblike piece used to form, strengthen, or shape something [a rib of an umbrella]

8. [< the RIB vt., sense 3] Slang

a) a teasing or bantering remark or action

b) a satire or parody

9. Archit.

a) a long curved piece in an arch

b) any of the transverse and intersecting arches of a vault

10. Bot. any of the main veins in a leaf

vt.

ribbed, ribbing

1. to provide, form, or strengthen with a rib or ribs

2. to put ribs in; mark with ribs

3. [prob. < rib-tickle] Slang to tease or make fun of; kid