ribbon

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: rib=bon

CIDE DICTIONARY

ribbon, n. [OE. riban, OF. riban, F. ruban, probably of German origin; cf. D. ringband collar, necklace, E. ring circle, and band.].

•  A fillet or narrow woven fabric, commonly of silk, used for trimming some part of a woman's attire, for badges, and other decorative purposes.  [1913 Webster]
•  A narrow strip or shred; as, a steel or magnesium ribbon; sails torn to ribbons.  [1913 Webster]
•  Same as Rib-band.  [1913 Webster]
•  Driving reins.  London Athen'91um.  [1913 Webster]
•  A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth as wide.  [1913 Webster]
•  A silver.  [1913 Webster]

  " The blue ribbon, and The red ribbon, are phrases often used to designate the British orders of the Garter and of the Bath, respectively, the badges of which are suspended by ribbons of these colors. See Blue ribbon, under Blue."  [1913 Webster]

Ribbon fish. (Zoöl.) (a) Any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped marine fish of the family Trachypteridæ, especially the species of the genus Trachypterus, and the oarfish (Regelecus Banksii) of the North Atlantic, which is sometimes over twenty feet long. (b) The hairtail, or bladefish. (c) A small compressed marine fish of the genus Cepola, having a long, slender, tapering tail. The European species (Cepola rubescens) is light red throughout. Called also band fish. -- Ribbon grass (Bot.), a variety of reed canary grass having the leaves stripped with green and white; -- called also Lady's garters. See Reed grass, under Reed. -- Ribbon seal (Zoöl.), a North Pacific seal (Histriophoca fasciata). The adult male is dark brown, conspicuously banded and striped with yellowish white. -- Ribbon snake (Zoöl.), a common North American snake (Eutainia saurita). It is conspicuously striped with bright yellow and dark brown. -- Ribbon Society, a society in Ireland, founded in the early part of the 19th century in antagonism to the Orangemen. It afterwards became an organization of tennant farmers banded together to prevent eviction by landlords. It took its name from the green ribbon worn by members as a badge. -- Ribborn worm. (Zoöl.) (a) A tapeworm. (b) A nemertean.

ribbon, v. t. 

 To adorn with, or as with, ribbons; to mark with stripes resembling ribbons.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ribbon, n.
1 a a narrow strip or band of fabric, used esp. for trimming or decoration. b material in this form.
2 a ribbon of a special colour etc. worn to indicate some honour or membership of a sports team etc.
3 a long narrow strip of anything, e.g. impregnated material forming the inking agent in a typewriter.
4 (in pl.) ragged strips (torn to ribbons).

Idiom

ribbon development the building of houses along a main road, usu. one leading out of a town or village. ribbon worm a nemertean.

Derivative

ribboned adj.

Etymology

var. of RIBAND

THESAURUS

ribbon

Mystik tape, Scotch tape, X ray, actinic ray, actinism, adhesive tape, arch, atomic beam, atomic ray, band, bandage, bandeau, barrow, batten, bead, beam, beam of light, bejewel, belt, beribbon, bespangle, blue ribbon, boundary stone, brass, bust, cairn, cellophane tape, cenotaph, cloth tape, column, cordon, cordon bleu, cromlech, cross, cup, cyclolith, decoration, decoration of honor, diamond, dolmen, engrave, fascia, feather, figure, filigree, fillet, flag, flounce, flower, footstone, friction tape, gamma ray, garland, garter, gem, girdle, gleam, gold star, grand cordon, grave, gravestone, headstone, hoarstone, illuminate, infrared ray, inscription, invisible radiation, jewel, lath, leam, ligula, ligule, list, marker, masking tape, mausoleum, megalith, memento, memorial, memorial arch, memorial column, memorial statue, memorial stone, menhir, monolith, monument, mound, necrology, obelisk, obituary, order, ornament, paint, patch, pencil, photon, pillar, plank, plaque, plastic tape, plume, prize, pyramid, radiation, radiorays, ray, ray of light, red ribbon, reliquary, remembrance, riband, ribband, ribbon of light, rostral column, shaft, shred, shrine, slat, slip, solar rays, spangle, spill, spline, star, stela, stone, strake, strap, streak, stream, stream of light, streamer, strip, stripe, strop, stupa, tablet, taenia, tape, tape measure, tapeline, testimonial, ticker tape, tinsel, tomb, tombstone, tope, trophy, ultraviolet ray, violet ray, wreathe

ROGET THESAURUS

ribbon

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Filament

N filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous, filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous.

Title

N title, honor, knighthood, highness, excellency, grace, lordship, worship, reverence, reverend, esquire, sir, master, Mr, signor, senor, Mein Herr, mynheer, your honor, his honor, serene highness, handle to one's name, decoration, laurel, palm, wreath, garland, bays, medal, ribbon, riband, blue ribbon, cordon, cross, crown, coronet, star, garter, feather, feather in one's cap, epaulet, epaulette, colors, cockade, livery, order, arms, shield, scutcheon, reward.