noun
- a narrow strip of silk, rayon, velvet, etc. finished at the edges and of various widths, used for decoration, tying things, etc.
- material in such strips
- anything suggesting such a strip: a ribbon of blue sky
- torn strips or shreds; tatters: a garment torn to ribbons
- ☆ a narrow strip of inked cloth or plastic against which type characters strike for printing, as in a typewriter
- a small strip of colored cloth worn as a badge or awarded as a prize, symbol of honor or achievement, etc.: winner of a blue ribbon
- Mil. a strip of cloth, often of many colors, worn on the left breast of the uniform to indicate an award of a decoration or medal
- Informal reins used in driving
Origin:
ME riban < MFr riban, ruban < ? MDu ringband, collar < ring, ring + band, akin to band
intransitive verb
to extend or form in a ribbonlike strip or strips