rhubarb
Any plant of the genus Rheum, especially Rheum rhabarbarum, having large leaves and…Any plant of the genus Rheum, especially Rheum rhabarbarum, having large leaves and long green or reddish acidic leafstalks that are edible, in particular when cooked (although the leaves are mildly poisonous).
» Have you ever made rhubarb jam?
Hast du schon einmal Rhabarbermarmelade gemacht?
Habt ihr schon einmal Rhabarbermarmelade gemacht?
Haben Sie schon einmal Rhabarbermarmelade gemacht?
Meaning
9 senses(countable, uncountable)Any plant of the genus Rheum, especially Rheum rhabarbarum, having large leaves and long green or reddish acidic leafstalks that are edible, in particular when cooked (although the leaves are mildly poisonous).
Rhabarber
реве́ньrevénʹ
реві́ньrevínʹ
plants having long green or reddish acidic leafstalks growing in basal clumps; stems (and only the stems) are edible when cooked; leaves are poisonous
(attributive, countable, often, uncountable)The leafstalks of common rhubarb or garden rhubarb (usually known as Rheum × hybridum), which are long, fleshy, often pale red, and with a tart taste, used as a food ingredient; they are frequently stewed with sugar and made into jam or used in crumbles, pies, etc.
(countable, uncountable)The dried rhizome and roots of Rheum palmatum (Chinese rhubarb) or Rheum officinale (Tibetan rhubarb), from China, used as a laxative and purgative.
(UK, countable, historical, uncountable)A Royal Air Force World War II code name for operations by aircraft (fighters and fighter-bombers) involving low-level flight to seek opportunistic targets.
(countable, uncountable)A ditch alongside a road or highway.
Driving home yesterday, I almost hit the rhubarb.
(uncountable)General background noise caused by several simultaneous indecipherable conversations, which is created in films, stage plays, etc., by actors repeating the word rhubarb; hence, such noise in other settings.
(UK, broadly, uncountable)Nonsense; false utterance.
(US, countable)An excited, angry exchange of words, especially at a sporting event.
(US, broadly, countable)A brawl.
Examples
11 sentencesHave you ever made rhubarb jam?
deHast du schon einmal Rhabarbermarmelade gemacht?
I like strawberry and rhubarb pie.
Tonight we're having lettuce with rhubarb.
deHeute Abend gibt es Salat mit Rhabarber.
He got drunk on homemade rhubarb wine.
I prefer rhubarb pie to apricot pie.
deIch mag lieber Rhabarber- als Aprikosenkuchen.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English rubarbe, from Anglo-Norman reubarbe (modern French rhubarbe), from LatFrom Middle English rubarbe, from Anglo-Norman reubarbe (modern French rhubarbe), from Late Latin reubarbarum, rheubarbarum, rubarbera, rybarba, probably from Koine Greek ῥῆον βαρβαρικόν (rhêon barbarikón), from ῥῆον (rhêon, “rhubarb”) + Ancient Greek βαρβαρικόν (barbarikón), neuter of βαρβαρικός (barbarikós, “foreign; barbaric”) (English barbaric).
Attributed to the circa 1852 practice by the theatre company of English actor Charles Kean (1811–1868) at the Princess’s Theatre, London, of actors saying the word rhubarb repetitively to mimic the sound of indistinct conversation, the word having been chosen because it does not have harsh-sounding consonants or clear vowels.
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Forms
plural: rhubarb / rhubarbsSynonyms
3 synonyms- plants having long green or reddish acidic leafstalks growing in basal clumps; stems (and only the stems) are edible when cooked; leaves are poisonous:rhubarb plant
- long pinkish sour leafstalks usually eaten cooked and sweetened:pieplant
Word family
10 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable