ribbon

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A narrow strip or band of fine fabric, such as satin or velvet, finished at the edges and used for trimming, tying, or finishing.
2. n. Something, such as a tape measure, that resembles a ribbon.
3. n. A long thin strip: a ribbon of land along the shore.
4. n. Tattered or ragged strips: a dress torn to ribbons.
5. n. An inked strip of cloth used for making an impression, as in a typewriter.
6. n. A band of colored cloth signifying membership in an order or the award of a prize.
7. n. A strip of colored cloth worn on the left breast of a uniform to indicate the award of a medal or decoration.
8. n. Informal Reins for driving horses.
9. n. See ledger board.
10. v. To decorate or tie with ribbons.
11. v. To tear into ribbons or shreds.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Originally, a stripe in a material, or the band or border of a garment, whether woven in the stuff or applied.
2. n. A strip of fine stuff, as silk, satin, or velvet, having two selvages. Ribbons in this sense seem to have been introduced in the sixteenth century. Ordinarily ribbons are made of widths varying from one fourth of an inch, or perhaps even less, to seven or eight inches, but occasionally sash-ribbons or the like are made of much greater widths. According to the fashion of the day, ribbons are made richly figured or brocaded, of corded silk with velvet and satin stripes, satin-faced on each side, the two sides being of different colors, each perfect, and in many other styles.
3. n. Specifically, the honorary distinction of an order of knighthood, usually in two forms: first, the broad ribbon, denoting the highest class of such an order (for which see cordon, 7); second, the small knot of ribbon worn in the buttonhole by members of an order when not wearing the cross or other badge. Blue ribbon and red ribbon are often used to denote the orders of the Garter and Bath respectively. A blue ribbon was also a badge of the Order of the Holy Ghost in France. Compare cordon bleu, under cordon.
4. n. That which resembles a ribbon in shape; a long and narrow strip of anything.
5. n. plural Reins for driving.
6. n. A strip; a shred: as, the sails were torn to ribbons.
7. n. In spinning, a continuous strand of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted condition; a sliver.
8. n. In metal-working, a long, thin strip of metal, such as a watch-spring
9. n. a thin steel band for a belt, or an endless saw
10. n. a thin band of magnesium for burning
11. n. a thin steel strip for measuring, resembling a tape-line.
12. n. One of the stripes painted on arrow-shafts, generally around the shaftment. Also called clan-mark, owner-mark, game-tally, etc.
13. n. A narrow web of silk for hand-stamps, saturated with free color, which is readily transferred by pressure to paper.
14. n. In stained-glass work and the like, a strip or thin bar of lead grooved to hold the edges of the glass. See lead, 7.
15. n. In heraldry, a bearing considered usually as one of the subordinaries. It is a diminutive of the bend, and one eighth of its width.
16. n. In carpentry, a long thin strip of wood, or a series of such strips, uniting several parts. Compare rib-band.
17. n. Nautical, a painted molding on the side of a ship.
18. n. Figuratively, anything which marks the attainment of an object of ambition; also, the object itself.
19. n. A member of the Order of the Garter.
20. n. The badge of a society pledged to total abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks: it consists of a bit of blue ribbon worn in a buttonhole.
21. n. The ribbon of a knight of the Legion of Honor.
22. Made of ribbon: as, a ribbon bow; ribbon trimming.
23. In mineralogy, characterized by parallel bands of different colors: as, ribbon agate.
24. [capitalized] Pertaining to the Ribbon Society or to Ribbonism: as, a Ribbon lodge.
25. To border with stripes resembling ribbons; stripe; streak.
26. To adorn with ribbons.
27. To form into long narrow strips; cause to take the shape of ribbon.
28. n. The banding in slates due to the preservation of the original bedding, which may be related to the cleavage at any angle.
29. To stretch into long strips like ribbons: sometimes with out, as soap at one stage of its manufacture.

Wiktionary

1. n. A long, narrow strip of material used for decoration of clothing or the hair or gift wrapping.
2. n. An inked strip of material against which type is pressed to print letters in a typewriter or printer.
3. n. A toolbar that incorporates tabs and menus.
4. v. to decorate with ribbon

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. n. A narrow strip or shred
3. n. Same as Rib-band.
4. n. Driving reins.
5. n. A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth as wide.
6. n. A silver.
7. v. To adorn with, or as with, ribbons; to mark with stripes resembling ribbons.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event
2. n. a long strip of inked material for making characters on paper with a typewriter
3. n. any long object resembling a thin line
4. n. notion consisting of a narrow strip of fine material used for trimming