English Explanatory Dictionary

ribbon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A long, narrow strip of material used for decoration of clothing or the hair or gift wrapping.
  2. An awareness ribbon.
  3. An inked strip of material against which type is pressed to print letters in a typewriter or printer.
  4. A narrow strip or shred.
  5. In ice cream and similar confections, an ingredient (often chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, or fudge) added in a long narrow strip.
  6. Alternative form of ribband.
  7. A painted moulding on the side of a ship.
  8. A watchspring.
  9. A bandsaw.
  10. Reins for a horse.
  11. A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth as wide.
  12. A sliver.
verb
  1. To decorate with ribbon.
  2. To stripe or streak.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹɪbən/ en-us-ribbon.ogg

Word forms

ribbon ribbons ribband reebon ribboning ribboned

Etymology

From Middle English riban, ryban, ryband, from Old French riban, ruban ( > modern French ruban), of uncertain origin. Likely from a Germanic compound whose second element is cognate with English band. Compare Middle Dutch ringhband (“necklace”, literally “ring-band”).

Synonyms

beribbon

Related words

riband

Derived words

AIDS ribbon awareness ribbon beribbon blue ribbon cut to ribbons frosted ribbon loaf frosted ribbon sandwich green ribbon lip-ribbon Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds magnesium ribbon microribbon nanoribbon pink ribbon Portland ribbon wave red ribbon ribbonback ribbon brake ribbon cable ribbon candy ribbon cane ribbon cutting ribboner ribbon farm ribbon fern ribbonfish ribbongrass ribbon grass ribbon gum Ribbonism ribbonite ribbonization ribbonize ribbonlength ribbonless ribbonlike ribbon loaf ribbonmaker Ribbonman ribbon map ribbon microphone ribbon representation ribbonry ribbon seal ribbon snake ribbon speaker ribbon spread ribbon stamp ribbontail ribbon-tailed astrapia ribbonweed ribbon wire ribbonwood ribbon worm ribbony streamribbon tear to ribbons yellow ribbon

Translations

Bulgarian: лента
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