ribbon
/ˈrɪbən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈrɪbən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈri-bən/ (ame, mw)
ribbon — noun
- ribbonsingular
- ribbonsplural
1. a thin strip of fabric or similar soft material that you tie around something or
a thin strip of fabric or similar soft material that you tie around something or use as a decorative item, for example on gifts, in your hair, or on clothing.
Owen wrapped the gift box with a shiny red ribbon and a bow.
collocation: red ribbon / silk ribbon / satin ribbon
The little girl wore a white silk ribbon in her hair for the party.
A thin blue ribbon was tied around each invitation card.
Ritu used a green velvet ribbon to fasten the bundle of love letters.
Long silk ribbons hung from the back of the wedding dress.
文法句型
usually countable
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a single strip ('a red ribbon'); uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a metre of ribbon').
常見錯誤
2. any object or marking that has a long, thin form like a strip of ribbon — for ex
any object or marking that has a long, thin form like a strip of ribbon — for example, a road cutting through a landscape, a beam of light, or a column of smoke.
A narrow ribbon of smoke rose from the chimney into the cold air.
pattern: a ribbon of [smoke/light/road/river]
The river was a blue ribbon winding through the green valley.
A ribbon of asphalt connected the two small mountain villages.
Ribbons of golden light shone through the cracks in the wooden door.
The garden had narrow ribbons of grass between the flower beds.
文法句型
usually singular: a ribbon of [noun]
用法筆記
Typically used in descriptive language about landscapes or light. The noun is almost always followed by 'of' plus the material or substance. This sense refers only to shape, not to actual fabric.
常見錯誤
3. a short coloured cloth bar worn on a soldier's uniform as a mark of honour for s
a short coloured cloth bar worn on a soldier's uniform as a mark of honour for service in a particular battle, a period of duty, or an act of bravery.
The captain wore three service ribbons pinned above his left pocket.
collocation: service ribbons / campaign ribbons
Grandpa keeps his old military ribbons from the Korean War in a small wooden box.
Each soldier received a campaign ribbon for serving in the peacekeeping mission.
Niran proudly pinned his bravery ribbon next to his name badge.
- medal
a larger metal disc or cross hung from a ribbon; a higher honour than a ribbon bar
- decoration
a general term for any military award
文法句型
usually plural: service ribbons / campaign ribbons
用法筆記
A military ribbon is worn on the uniform as a flat bar, different from a full medal which hangs from a neck chain or larger pin. Soldiers often wear multiple ribbons to represent different honours.
常見錯誤
4. a coloured strip of material that is awarded to people who win or come second or
a coloured strip of material that is awarded to people who win or come second or third during a contest, for example at a school fair, a sports day, or an agricultural show.
The winner of the pie contest received a blue ribbon and a trophy.
blue ribbon = first place; red ribbon = second place
Henry hung his first-place ribbon on the wall above his bed.
The children cheered loudly when Dewi won a red ribbon for her painting.
At the school sports day, every race winner got a coloured ribbon.
文法句型
usually colour + ribbon: blue ribbon / red ribbon
用法筆記
In American English, a 'blue ribbon' means first place, 'red ribbon' means second, and 'yellow ribbon' or 'white ribbon' means third. This system is also common at county fairs and school competitions worldwide.
常見錯誤
5. a long, narrow strip of fabric or film that is soaked with ink and used in a typ
a long, narrow strip of fabric or film that is soaked with ink and used in a typewriter or some printers to transfer letters onto paper.
The typewriter ribbon had run out of ink, so the letters were very faint.
collocation: typewriter ribbon / ink ribbon
Owen replaced the old black ribbon with a fresh one before typing the letter.
Nadia wound the ink ribbon carefully between the two plastic spools.
A red-and-black ribbon let the typist switch between two ink colours.
- ink strip
a general term; less common than 'typewriter ribbon'
- printer ribbon
used for older dot-matrix printers
文法句型
typewriter ribbon / ink ribbon
用法筆記
This sense is becoming less common as typewriters are replaced by digital keyboards and printers. Many younger learners may not be familiar with this item, so it is often explained by comparison to a printer cartridge.
ribbon — verb
- ribbonpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ribbons3rd person singular
- ribbonning-ing form
- ribbonnedpast simple
1. to decorate something by tying or attaching ribbons to it, often for a celebrati
to decorate something by tying or attaching ribbons to it, often for a celebration or special event.
For her birthday, the florist ribboned the bouquet with white silk.
pattern: ribbon [something] with [material]
Kian carefully ribboned each gift box before the wedding party.
Hui ribboned each chair along the wedding aisle with white satin bows.
The bride ribboned her braids with small pink bows for the ceremony.
The hall was ribboned with gold and silver decorations for the party.
文法句型
be ribboned with [object]
ribbon [object]
用法筆記
This verb is not very common in everyday speech. People more often say 'tied a ribbon around' or 'decorated with ribbons.' It appears most in descriptive or literary writing.
2. to cut or slice something deliberately into long, thin strips using a blade or m
to cut or slice something deliberately into long, thin strips using a blade or machine.
The machine ribboned the paper into thin strips for packing material.
pattern: ribbon [something] into [thin strips/pieces]
A sharp knife ribboned the carrot into long, delicate slices for the salad.
At the workshop, Chiara ribboned the leather into thin straps for the handbags.
In the factory, a large cutter ribboned sheets of leather for the belts.
文法句型
ribbon [object] into [pieces]
用法筆記
Use 'ribbon into' when the result is a deliberate, controlled cut into strips by a blade or machine. For violent tearing into shreds, see verb sense 3 (TEAR APART).
3. to tear or rip something violently into shreds or fragments, typically through u
to tear or rip something violently into shreds or fragments, typically through uncontrolled forces such as claws, storms, or explosions, leaving it damaged beyond repair.
The stray cat ribboned the new silk curtains into shreds in just one afternoon.
violence/destruction — not a controlled cut
Typhoon Amira ribboned the sails of the fishing boat into tattered strips.
Eli's puppy ribboned the new sofa cushions into a mess of foam and fabric.
The angry protesters ribboned the banners into strips during the clash.
文法句型
ribbon [object] (into shreds)
用法筆記
This sense emphasises violent destruction, unlike sense 2 which describes a controlled division into strips. The result is always damage that cannot be easily fixed.