# rib

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɪb/ · frequency rank #13,230

## Definitions
1. Any of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and other animals and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum.
2. A part or piece, similar to a rib, and serving to shape or support something.
3. A cut of meat enclosing one or more rib bones.
4. Any of several curved members attached to a ship's keel and extending upward and outward to form the framework of the hull.
5. Any of several transverse pieces that provide an aircraft wing with shape and strength.
6. A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault
7. A strip of metal running along the top of the barrel that serves as a sighting plane.
8. A raised ridge in knitted material or in cloth.
9. The main, or any of the prominent veins of a leaf.
10. A teasing joke.
11. A single strand of hair.
12. A stalk of celery.
13. A wife or woman.

## Etymology
From Middle English rib, ribbe, from Old English ribb (“rib”), from Proto-West Germanic *ribi, from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ- (“arch, ceiling, cover”).
Cognate with Dutch rib (“rib”), Norwegian ribbe (“sparerib”), Norwegian ribben (“rib”), Low German ribbe (“rib”), German Rippe (“rib”), Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), Serbo-Croatian rèbro (“rib”).
(wife or woman): In reference to the creation of Eve from Adam's rib in the Bible.

## Easily confused with
- **RS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rs)
- **RT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rt)
- **RM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rm)
- **RN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rn)
- **RP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rp)
- **RV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rv)
- **RR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rr)
- **RL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rl)
- **RW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rw)
- **run** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-run)
- **row** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-row)
- **rid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rid)
- **Rio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rio)
- **rob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rob)
- **rip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rip)
- **Roy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-roy)
- **Ron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-ron)
- **rod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rod)
- **rub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rub)
- **rig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rib-vs-rig)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rib