/ ˈrɪbən; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] a narrow strip of material, used to tie things or for decoration :
a present tied with yellow ribbon
lengths of velvet ribbon
She was wearing two blue silk ribbons in her hair.
2.
[ C ] something that is long and narrow in shape :
The road was a ribbon of moonlight.
( BrE )
Ribbon developments (= lines of buildings) extended along the main road.
3.
[ C ] a ribbon in special colours, or tied in a special way, that is given to sb as a prize or as a military honour, or that is worn by sb to show that they belong to a particular political party
—compare rosette
4.
[ C ] a long strip of material containing ink that you put into typewriters and some computer printers
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IDIOMS
- cut / tear, etc. sth to ribbons
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: variant of riband . The French spelling ruban was also frequent in the 16th–18th cents.