rib

/rɪb/

/rɪb/

Other forms: ribs; ribbed; ribbing

A rib is a curved bone in a person's chest. Your ribs protect your internal organs. A rib is also the curved bone in a pig’s chest, and some people eat that with barbeque sauce.

Ribs are strong and flexible, and they form a kind of protective cage around our soft inside parts. Animals have ribs, too — fish even have two sets of ribs. If you're a meat eater, you probably know that pigs and cows have ribs that are a popular menu item at barbecue restaurants. Things that resemble anatomical ribs, like raised rows in a knitted garment — are also called ribs. And to rib someone is to tease them.

Definitions of rib

1. noun

   any of the 12 pairs of curved arches of bone extending from the spine to or toward the sternum in humans (and similar bones in most vertebrates)
   synonyms: costa

   types:

   true rib

   one of the first seven ribs in a human being which attach to the sternum

   type of:

   bone, os

   rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
2. noun

   a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant
   types:

   calamus, quill, shaft

   the hollow spine of a feather

   nervure, vein

   one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

   type of:

   anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, complex body part, structure

   a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing
3. noun

   support resembling the rib of an animal
   types:

   screw thread, thread

   the raised helical rib going around a screw

   type of:

   support

   any device that bears the weight of another thing
4. noun

   a projecting molding on the underside of a vault or ceiling; may be ornamental or structural
   type of:

   molding, moulding

   a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing
5. noun

   cut of meat including one or more ribs
   types:

   sparerib

   a cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off

   type of:

   cut, cut of meat

   a piece of meat that has been cut from an animal carcass
6. verb

   form vertical ribs by knitting
   “A ribbed sweater”

   type of:

   knit

   make (textiles) by knitting
7. noun

   a teasing remark
   type of:

   comment, input, remark

   a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
8. verb

   subject to laughter or ridicule
   synonyms: blackguard, guy, jest at, laugh at, make fun, poke fun, ridicule, roast

   types:

   tease

   mock or make fun of playfully

   lampoon, satirise, satirize

   ridicule with satire

   debunk, expose

   expose while ridiculing; especially of pretentious or false claims and ideas

   stultify

   cause to appear foolish

   uncloak, unmask

   reveal the true nature of

   type of:

   bemock, mock

   treat with contempt