Definition

Noun: 1. The act of teasing or making fun of someone in a playful or persistent way: A form of good-natured harassment, often involving jokes, mockery, or lighthearted ridicule. 2. A framework or pattern of ribs: A structural or decorative arrangement of raised lines or bands, resembling the ribs of an animal or a piece of knitting.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Teasing):
  • The friendly ribbing among teammates helped build camaraderie.
  • He took the constant ribbing about his new haircut in good humor.
• Noun (Framework):
  • The ribbing of the vaulted ceiling was both structural and beautiful.
  • This sweater has a distinctive cable and ribbing pattern on the cuffs.

Advanced Usage

• "to take the ribbing": To accept or endure teasing without getting upset.
  • You have to be able to take the ribbing if you want to work here.

Variants and Related Words

• Rib (verb): To tease or make fun of someone playfully.
  • His friends ribbed him for being late again.
• Ribbed (adjective): Having a pattern or surface of raised lines.
  • The columns were ribbed with decorative fluting.

Synonyms

• For teasing: Teasing, kidding, joshing, raillery, badinage.
• For framework: Framework, structure, webbing, lattice.

Related Phrases

• Good-natured ribbing: Teasing that is intended to be friendly and humorous, not hurtful.
  • It was just some good-natured ribbing; no one meant any harm.

Noun

1. the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
   • he ignored their teases
   • his ribbing was gentle but persistent
2. a framework of ribs