ribs

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebiology

   The curved bones that form a protective cage around the chest.

   Grammar: Plural: ribs; a single bone is a rib.

   Patterns

   • a pain in the ribs

   He fell off his bike and bruised two ribs.

   Your ribs protect the heart and lungs.

   The doctor pressed gently on her ribs.

2. 2nounplural

   Pieces of meat cut from the rib area of an animal, usually cooked and eaten with the bones.

   Grammar: Usually plural, as in a plate of ribs.

   Patterns

   • a rack of ribs

   We ordered barbecue ribs for dinner.

   The ribs were slow-cooked with a sweet sauce.

   He grilled pork ribs in the garden.

3. 3nounpluraltechnical

   Long narrow supports or raised lines that give strength or shape to a structure such as a boat, umbrella or leaf.

   Grammar: Used for parts of an object: the ribs of a boat.

   The ribs of the old boat were visible in the mud.

   The umbrella's ribs were bent by the wind.

   The roof is held up by stone ribs.

Word forms

Common combinations

broken ribs

He ended up with two broken ribs.

bruised ribs

Bruised ribs hurt when you laugh.

barbecue ribs

We love barbecue ribs on weekends.

a rack of ribs

They ordered a rack of ribs.

short ribs

The short ribs simmered for hours.

Synonyms and how they differ

bones

Bones is a much broader word; ribs names only the chest bones.

rib cage

Rib cage refers to the whole bony structure, whereas ribs are the separate bones.

spareribs

Spareribs are specifically cut from pork near the belly, and so are narrower than ribs in general.

struts

Struts are supports in machines or buildings and lack the curved idea of ribs.

Word family

rib noun/verb

A single bone, or to tease someone.

ribbed adjective

Having raised lines.

rib cage noun

The bony frame of the chest.

Commonly confused: ribs or word?

Practice

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