Meaning & use
ribbed
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Marked with raised parallel lines or ridges, as on knitted cloth or a textured surface.
Grammar: Usually comes before the noun: a ribbed sweater.
Patterns
- ribbed cotton
- ribbed with ridges
He wore a ribbed sweater with a high collar.
The ribbed cuffs kept the sleeves snug at the wrist.
The dog toy has a ribbed surface that is easy to grip.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Having a supporting frame of curved bars or ridges that look like ribs.
Grammar: Used mainly in descriptions of buildings or objects: a ribbed vault.
Patterns
- ribbed vault
The cathedral has a ribbed ceiling that rises like the inside of a ship.
Ribbed plastic sheets make the roof stronger without making it heavier.
The tent's ribbed frame held steady in the wind.
Common combinations
- ribbed sweater
- She pulled on a thick ribbed sweater.
- ribbed cuffs
- The jacket has ribbed cuffs and hem.
- ribbed fabric
- Ribbed fabric stretches more than flat weaves.
- ribbed vault
- The monastery has a beautiful ribbed vault.
- ribbed tires
- The bike had narrow ribbed tires for wet roads.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ridged
- Ridged is the general word for any surface with raised lines, while ribbed suggests a regular pattern, especially in fabric.
- corrugated
- Corrugated describes wavy folds in metal or cardboard, so it is bigger and rougher than ribbed.
- fluted
- Fluted refers to rounded grooves, as on a column, and sounds more decorative than ribbed.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ribbed or ribald?
ribbed vs ribald
Ribald means rude or coarsely humorous, and has nothing to do with ridges or texture.
Practice
The cuffs of the sweater were ___, so they stretched to fit snugly around her wrists.
Choose one answer.
Ribbed knitting has raised lines that give stretch and a snug fit. Corrugated describes wavy sheets of metal or card, so it does not suit cuffs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ribbed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.