"ribbing" in the noun sense
1. ribbing
a framework of ribs
2. tease, teasing, ribbing, tantalization
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule provoking someone with persistent annoyances
"he ignored their teases"
"his ribbing was gentle but persistent"
"ribbing" in the verb sense
1. rib
form vertical ribs by knitting
"A ribbed sweater"
2. ridicule, roast, guy, blackguard, laugh at, jest at, rib, make fun, poke fun
subject to laughter or ridicule
"The satirists ridiculed the plans for a new opera house"
"The students poked fun at the inexperienced teacher"
"His former students roasted the professor at his 60th birthday"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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