ribbon

ribbon

a long thin flexible band of metal used as a graduated measure, spring, etc.

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ribbon

[′rib·ən]

(building construction)

A horizontal piece of wood nailed to the face of studs; usually used to support the floor joists.

(graphic arts)

A narrow band of inked fabric in a typewriter or other printing machine with which type is printed by striking keys against it.

(mathematics)

The plane figure generated by a straight line which moves so that it is always perpendicular to the path traced by its middle point.

(petrology)

One of a set of parallel bands in a rock or mineral.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ribbon

1. A ribbon strip.

2. A long thin strip of wood, or a series of such strips uniting several parts.

3. In stained glass work or the like, a strip or bar of lead to hold the edge of the glass. Also called a came.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ribbon

(1) See ribbon cable.

(2) (Ribbon) A revised interface in Microsoft Office applications. See Office Ribbon.

(3) A band of fabric or flexible plastic material that holds ink or dye. It is used to transfer the ink to paper for printing.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ribbon

 

a decoration representing orders and medals of the USSR, as adopted by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on June 19, 1943. A ribbon of a specified color and design has been adopted for every order and medal. Orders and medals of the USSR, which are worn over the left breast, are attached to the clothing by a bar wrapped with a particular ribbon. To wear the ribbon instead of the order or medal, special rectangular bar pins wrapped with the corresponding ribbon have been adopted. Those orders worn on the right side of the chest without bars have also been assigned ribbons. In this case bar pins are worn. Bar pins of all orders and medals are worn over the left breast. No ribbons have been instituted for the Orders of Mother Heroine and Glory of Motherhood or for the Medal of Motherhood. The ribbons of the Gold Star and Hammer and Sickle medals are always worn with their medals. Orders in foreign countries also have ribbons.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.