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Definition of barbecue ribs
barbecue ribs
Plural:barbecue ribs
barbecue ribs Lexical Profile
CEFR
A2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
North American A popular dish consisting of cuts of pork or beef containing the rib bones, which are slow-cooked, smoked, or grilled, and typically generously coated or marinated in a savory, sweet, or tangy barbecue sauce.
Example
"For the summer cookout, my uncle prepared a massive platter of tender, slow-smoked barbecue ribs."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for barbecue ribsWord Origin & Etymology
A culinary compound term combining 'barbecue' (from Spanish 'barbacoa', derived from Arawak 'barbakoa', meaning a wooden framework for roasting meat) and 'ribs' (from Old English 'ribb'). The phrase became prominent in American regional cuisine to describe slow-cooked cuts of pork or beef.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barbecue ribs. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barbecue ribs