rib
rib [rib ribs ribbed ribbing] noun, verb BrE [rɪb] NAmE [rɪb]
noun
1. countable any of the curved bones that are connected to the ↑spine and surround the chest
•a broken/bruised/cracked rib
•Stop poking me in the ribs! 
see also ↑ribcage
2. uncountable, countable a piece of meat with one or more bones from the ribs of an animal
see also ↑spare rib
3. countable a curved piece of wood, metal or plastic that forms the frame of a boat, roof, etc. and makes it stronger
•a roof with rib vaulting
4. uncountable, countable a way of knitting that produces a pattern of vertical lines in which some are higher than others
•a rib cotton sweater
see dig sb in the ribs at ↑dig v.
Word Origin:
Old English rib, ribb (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rib(be) and German Rippe. The sense ‘tease’ was originally a US slang usage meaning ‘to fool, dupe’ (1930s).
Example Bank:
•I woke him up with a poke in the ribs.
verb (-bb-)~ sb (about/over sth) (old-fashioned, informal)
to laugh at sb and make jokes about them, but in a friendly way
Syn: ↑tease
•He used to rib her mercilessly about her accent.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English rib, ribb (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rib(be) and German Rippe. The sense ‘tease’ was originally a US slang usage meaning ‘to fool, dupe’ (1930s).
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