noun

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
2. 1. a cut of meat having one or more ribs
   2. 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. Etymology: < the rib, sense

   Slang
   1. a teasing or bantering remark or action
   2. a satire or parody
9. Archit.
   1. a long curved piece in an arch
   2. any of the transverse and intersecting arches of a vault
10. Bot. any of the main veins in a leaf

Etymology: 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

transitive verb ribbed, ribbing rib′·bing

1. to provide, form, or strengthen with a rib or ribs
2. to put ribs in; mark with ribs

3. Etymology: prob. < rib-tickle

   Slang to tease or make fun of; kid