RIBBON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ribbon mean? 

• RIBBON (noun)
  The noun RIBBON has 4 senses:

1. any long object resembling a thin line

2. an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event

3. a long strip of inked material for making characters on paper with a typewriter

4. notion consisting of a narrow strip of fine material used for trimming

  Familiarity information: RIBBON used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RIBBON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any long object resembling a thin line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

ribbon; thread

Context example:

a thread of smoke climbed upward

Hypernyms ("ribbon" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ribbon"):

blade (something long and thin resembling a blade of grass)

Derivation:

ribbony (long and thin; resembling a ribbon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

decoration; laurel wreath; medal; medallion; palm; ribbon

Hypernyms ("ribbon" is a kind of...):

accolade; award; honor; honour; laurels (a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ribbon"):

Bronze Star; Bronze Star Medal (a United States military decoration awarded for meritorious service (except in aerial flight))

Medaille Militaire (a French military decoration)

Croix de Guerre (a French military decoration for gallantry)

Distinguished Service Order (a British military decoration for special service in action)

Distinguished Conduct Medal (a British military decoration for distinguished conduct in the field)

Victoria Cross (a British military decoration for gallantry)

Oak Leaf Cluster (a United States military decoration consisting of bronze or silver oak leaves and acorns awarded to anyone who has won a given medal before)

Order of the Purple Heart; Purple Heart (a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action)

Silver Star; Silver Star Medal (a United States military decoration for gallantry in action)

Air Medal (a United States Air Force decoration for meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight)

Distinguished Flying Cross (a United States Air Force decoration for heroism while participating in an aerial flight)

Navy Cross (a United States Navy decoration for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy)

Distinguished Service Cross (a United States Army decoration for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy)

Distinguished Service Medal (a United States military decoration for meritorious service in wartime duty of great responsibility)

Congressional Medal of Honor; Medal of Honor (the highest U.S. military decoration awarded for bravery and valor in action 'above and beyond the call of duty')

Sense 3

Meaning:

A long strip of inked material for making characters on paper with a typewriter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

ribbon; typewriter ribbon

Hypernyms ("ribbon" is a kind of...):

slip; strip (artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material)

Holonyms ("ribbon" is a part of...):

typewriter (hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Notion consisting of a narrow strip of fine material used for trimming

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ribbon" is a kind of...):

notion ((usually plural) small personal articles or clothing or sewing items)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ribbon"):

riband; ribband (a ribbon used as a decoration)

Derivation:

ribbony (long and thin; resembling a ribbon)

 Context examples 

The ribbon's round my little Minnie's neck now.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But why should not I wear pink ribbons?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

With the first slash, Baseek's right ear was ripped into ribbons.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

We had come on a small black ribbon of pathway.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck, and they started for the Throne Room of the Great Oz.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

There isn’t a professional on the road that can handle either his tongue or his ribbons better; but his wife, Lady Letty, is his match with the one or the other.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The two livres shall settle the score and buy some ribbons against the next kermesse.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Things seem so cheap, nice ribbons only sixpence a yard.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Here,—probably this basket with pink ribbon.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The magnetic field causes aurorae, which are ribbons of glowing, hot electrified gas, in regions circling the north and south poles of the moon.

(Hubble Observations Suggest Underground Ocean on Jupiter's Largest Moon, NASA)