Illustration of rib
- ribs 1a
1
a
: any of the paired curved bony or partly cartilaginous rods that stiffen the walls of the body of most vertebrates and protect the viscera
b(1)
: a cut of meat including a rib see beef illustration
(2)
: a boneless cut of meat (such as beef or pork) from a rib section
c
[from the account of Eve's creation from Adam's rib in Genesis 2:21–22]
: wife
2
: something resembling a rib in shape or function: such as
a(1)
: a traverse member of the frame of a ship that runs from keel to deck
(2)
: a light fore-and-aft member in an airplane's wing
b
: one of the stiff strips supporting an umbrella's fabric
c
: one of the arches in Romanesque and Gothic vaulting meeting and crossing one another and dividing the whole vaulted space into triangles
3
: an elongated ridge: such as
a(1)
: a vein of an insect's wing
(2)
: one of the primary veins of a leaf
b
: one of the ridges in a knitted or woven fabric
ribbed; ribbing
Examples of rib in a Sentence
Noun (2)
the movie is a rib of the "dramatic love story" that was so popular in the 1950s
began to lose his sense of humor after being the butt of his friends' ribs once too often
Verb (2)
ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025
More severe complications can include apnea (the sudden, temporary cessation of breathing), pneumonia, rib fractures from severe coughing, and even death.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2025
Think: ribbed tanks, quarter zips, soft joggers, wide-leg pants, and crewnecks that feel a little more refined than your typical athleisure.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rib
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The good food features steaks, prime rib, seafood and poultry, as well as pasta, burgers and a bar menu.
—Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025
More severe complications can include apnea (the sudden, temporary cessation of breathing), pneumonia, rib fractures from severe coughing, and even death.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
But to celebrate spring, some of the line’s best-selling scents are poured into special limited-edition ribbed jars and priced at $5 instead—an impressive 50% savings.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2025
Think: ribbed tanks, quarter zips, soft joggers, wide-leg pants, and crewnecks that feel a little more refined than your typical athleisure.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rib
Cite this Entry
“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rib. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rib
1 of 3 noun1
a
: one of the series of curved bones of the chest of most vertebrates that are joined to the spinal column in pairs and help to support the body wall and protect the organs inside
b
: a cut of meat including a rib
2
: something (as a piece of wire supporting the fabric of an umbrella) resembling a rib
3
a
: a major vein of an insect's wing or of a leaf
b
: one of the parallel ridges in a knitted or woven fabric
rib
2 of 3 verb
ribbed; ribbing
1
: to furnish or enclose with ribs
2
: to form ribs in a fabric in knitting or weaving
ribber
noun
Medical Definition
rib
noun
: any of the paired curved bony or partly cartilaginous rods that stiffen the lateral walls of the body of most vertebrates and protect the viscera, that occur in mammals exclusively or almost exclusively in the thoracic region, and that in humans normally include 12 pairs of which all are articulated with the spinal column at the dorsal end and the first 10 are connected also at the ventral end with the sternum by costal cartilages see false rib, floating rib, true rib
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share