/spair"ribz'/ , n. ( used with a pl. v. )
1. a cut of meat from the rib section, esp. of pork or beef, with some meat adhering to the bones.
2. a dish of this meat, usually baked, roasted, or barbecued with a pungent sauce.
[ 1590-1600; transposed var. of earlier ribspare ribbesper rib cut; cf. obs. spare a cut, slice ]