■ noun
1》 a large-leaved plant of the dock family which produces thick reddish or green leaf stalks. [ Rheum rhaponticum and related species.]
↘the cooked leaf stalks of the ~ plant, eaten as a dessert.
2》 Brit. informal noise made by a group of actors to give the impression of indistinct background conversation.
↘nonsense.
3》 N. Amer. informal a heated dispute.
Origin
ME: from OFr. reubarbe , from a shortening of med. L. rheubarbarum , alt. (by assoc. with rheum '~') of rhabarbarum 'foreign ~', from Gk rha (also meaning '~') + barbaros 'foreign'.