ribbon
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɹɪbən/
rhymes: -ɪbən
Forms: form: ribbons
form: ribband
form: reebon
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”).
Senses: examples: text: A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: / […] / A Cuffe neglectfull, and thereby / Ribbands to flovv confuſedly: / […] / Do more bevvitch me, than vvhen Art / Is too preciſe in every part.
ref: 1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29:
glosses: A long, narrow strip of material used for decoration of clothing or the hair or gift wrapping.
examples: text: With Monday marking the beginning of October’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month observance, supporters will be donning their pink ribbons as a show of support for ongoing research for a cure.
ref: 2018 October 1, Olivia B. Waxman, “Wearing a Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness? Here's How Awareness Ribbons Became a Thing”, in Time:
glosses: An awareness ribbon.
examples: text: Late at night, in the typewriter light / Ripped his ribbon to shreds
ref: 1989, Paul Heaton, Dave Rotheray, “Song for Whoever”, performed by The Beautiful South:
text: They were single-shift, frontstroke, typebar typewriters with four-bank QWERTY keyboards, inked by a ribbon.
ref: 2018, Mark J. P. Wolf, The Routledge Companion to Media Technology and Obsolescence:
glosses: An inked strip of material against which type is pressed to print letters in a typewriter or printer.
examples: text: a steel or magnesium ribbon
text: sails torn to ribbons
glosses: A narrow strip or shred.
topics: cooking
food
lifestyle
glosses: A narrow strip or shred.
In ice cream and similar confections, an ingredient (often chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, or fudge) added in a long narrow strip.
topics: business
manufacturing
shipbuilding
glosses: Alternative form of ribband.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: A painted moulding on the side of a ship.
glosses: A watchspring.
glosses: A bandsaw.
examples: text: "Here, sir, hold the ribbons." This to me, throwing me the reins. Jack got down from his perch, and after a little search in the bush was rewarded by the capture of the poor dazed pigeon, who was consigned to safe custody in the boot.
ref: 1887, James Inglis, Our New Zealand Cousins:
glosses: Reins for a horse.
topics: government
heraldry
hobbies
lifestyle
monarchy
nobility
politics
glosses: A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth as wide.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
spinning
sports
glosses: A sliver.
topics: journalism
media
glosses: A subheadline presented above its parent headline.
examples: text: Office programs are drowning in features—and they're crammed into so many different nooks and crannies that even pros don't know where to look. That's where the new ribbon fits in.
ref: 2007, Chris Grover, Matthew MacDonald, E. A. Vander Veer, Office 2007: The Missing Manual (page 586)
topics: computing
engineering
graphical-user-interface
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: A toolbar that incorporates tabs and menus.
qualifier: rhythmic gymnastics
glosses: An apparatus with a handle and a long narrow strip of fabric.
qualifier: rhythmic gymnastics
glosses: An apparatus with a handle and a long narrow strip of fabric.
An apparatus program with a ribbon.
Derived terms: AIDS ribbon
awareness ribbon
beribbon
blue ribbon
cut to ribbons
frosted ribbon loaf
frosted ribbon sandwich
green ribbon
lip-ribbon
magnesium ribbon
microribbon
nanoribbon
pink ribbon
Portland ribbon wave
red ribbon
ribbon brake
ribbon cable
ribbon candy
ribbon cane
ribbon cutting
ribbon farm
ribbon fern
ribbonfish
ribbongrass
ribbon gum
Ribbonism
ribbonite
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
ribbon-tailed astrapia
ribbonweed
ribbon wire
ribbonwood
ribbon worm
ribbony
streamribbon
tear to ribbons
yellow ribbon
Related terms: riband