ribbing

UK: /ˈrɪbɪŋ/ US: (rib′ing)

From the verb rib: (⇒ conjugate)

ribbing is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rib•bing¹  (rib′ing), n. 

1. ribs collectively.
2. Nautical, Clothing, Naval Terms an assemblage or arrangement of ribs, as in cloth or a ship.

• rib¹ + -ing¹ 1555–65

rib•bing²  (rib′ing), n. 

1. an act or instance of teasing.

• rib² + -ing¹ 1930–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ribbing / ˈrɪbɪŋ/ noun

1. a framework or structure of ribs
2. a raised pattern in woven or knitted material, made in knitting by doing purl and plain stitches alternately

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rib¹ /rɪb/   n., v., ribbed, rib•bing. 
n. [countable]

1. one of a series of curved bones connected to the backbone and occurring in pairs on each side of the body.
2. a cut of meat, as beef, containing a rib.
3. something resembling a rib in form, position, or use, such as a strengthening part:
   the ribs of an umbrella.

v. [~ + object]

4. to furnish or surround with ribs.

rib² /rɪb/   v. [~ + object] , ribbed, rib•bing. 

1. to tease;
   make fun of:
   ribbed him about his balding head.

rib•ber, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rib¹  (rib), n., v., ribbed, rib•bing. 
n. 

1. one of a series of curved bones that are articulated with the vertebrae and occur in pairs, 12 in humans, on each side of the vertebrate body, certain pairs being connected with the sternum and forming the thoracic wall. See diag. under skeleton. 
2. a cut of meat, as beef, containing a rib. See diag. under beef. 
3. ribs, spareribs (def. 2).
4. Architecture
   • any of several archlike members of a vault supporting it at the groins, defining its distinct surfaces, or dividing these surfaces into panels: including ogives and tiercerons.
   • any of several molded members or moldings, including ridge ribs and liernes, on the surface of a vault accenting the ridges or dividing the surface into panels.
5. something resembling a rib in form, position, or use, as a supporting or strengthening part.
6. a structural member that supports the shape of something:
   an umbrella rib.
7. Nautical, Naval Terms any of the curved framing members in a ship's hull that rise upward and outward from the keel;
   frame.
8. a stiffening beam cast as part of a concrete slab.
9. a primary vein of a leaf.
10. Textiles a vertical ridge in cloth, esp. in knitted fabrics.
11. Textiles a ridge, as in poplin or rep, caused by heavy yarn.
12. a wife (in humorous allusion to the creation of Eve. Gen. 2:21–22).
13. Ceramics a scraper for smoothing clay being thrown on a potter's wheel.
14. a metal ridge running along the top of the barrel of a firearm to simplify aligning the sights.
15. a longitudinal strip of metal joining the barrels of a double-barreled gun.

v.t. 
16. to furnish or strengthen with ribs.
17. to enclose as with ribs.
18. to mark with riblike ridges or markings.
• bef. 900; Middle English, Old English rib(b); cognate with German Rippe
rib′ber, n. 
rib′less, adj. 
rib′like′, adj. 

rib²  (rib), v.t., ribbed, rib•bing. 

1. to tease;
   make fun of.

• apparently short for rib-tickle (verb, verbal) 1925–30, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rib / rɪb/ noun

1. any of the 24 curved elastic arches of bone that together form the chest wall in humans. All are attached behind to the thoracic part of the spinal column
   Compare true rib, false ribs, floating rib
2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
3. a cut of meat including one or more ribs
4. a part or element similar in function or appearance to a rib, esp a structural or supporting member or a raised strip or ridge
5. a structural member in an aircraft's wing that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge and maintains the shape of the wing surface
6. a projecting moulding or band on the underside of a vault or ceiling, which may be structural or ornamental
7. one of a series of raised rows in knitted fabric
   See also ribbing3
8. any of the transverse stiffening timbers or joists forming the frame of a ship's hull
9. any of the larger veins of a leaf
10. a projecting ridge of a mountain; spur

verb (ribs, ribbing, ribbed)(transitive)

1. to furnish or support with a rib or ribs
2. to mark with or form into ribs or ridges
3. to knit plain and purl stitches alternately in order to make raised rows in (knitting)

Etymology: Old English ribb; related to Old High German rippi, Old Norse rif reef¹

ˈribless adjective

rib / rɪb/ verb (ribs, ribbing, ribbed)

1. (transitive) to tease or ridicule

Etymology: 20th Century: short for rib-tickle (vb)