crib

1 of 2

noun

plural cribs
1
: a manger for feeding animals
2
: an enclosure especially of framework: such as
a
: a stall for a stabled animal
b
: a small child's bedstead with high enclosing usually slatted sides
c
: any of various devices resembling a crate or framework in structure
d
: a building for storage : bin
3
a
: a small narrow room or dwelling : hut, shack
b
chiefly African American English slang : home sense 1a
I just wasn't in school. I was at the crib, chilling …unidentified speaker, quoted in Corpus of Regional African American Language
c
: a room or shack used for sex work
4
: the cards discarded in cribbage for the dealer to use in scoring
5
a
: a small theft
c
: a literal translation
especially : pony sense 3
d
: a summary and key to understanding a literary work
e
: something used for cheating in an examination
6

crib

2 of 2

verb

cribbed; cribbing

transitive verb

1
2
: to provide with or put into a crib
especially : to line or support with a framework of timber
3
: pilfer, steal
especially : plagiarize

intransitive verb

1
b
: to use a crib : cheat
2
: to have the vice of cribbing
cribber noun

Examples of crib in a Sentence

Verb She cribbed a line or two from her favorite poet. students cribbing off each other's papers
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The hotel has even partnered with UPPAbaby to offer complimentary travel cribs and strollers. Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024 As for the registry, parents-to-be can choose from hundreds of baby products, including cribs and car seats. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Thus cabined, cribbed, and confined, the left can hardly be surprised that its agenda has again dropped out of sight. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 25 Aug. 2024 But both the slogan and her platform seemed as though they had been cribbed off a consultant’s PowerPoint presentation for some other candidate, one who could actually sell populism. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for crib 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crib.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cribb; akin to Old High German krippa manger, and perhaps to Greek griphos reed basket

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crib was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near crib

Cite this Entry

“Crib.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crib. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

crib

1 of 2 noun
1
: a manger for feeding animals
2
: a small bed frame with high sides for a child
3
: a bin or building for storing grain
4
: the cards discarded in cribbage for the dealer to use in scoring
5
b
: something used for cheating on a test

crib

2 of 2 verb
cribbed; cribbing
1
: to copy (as an idea or piece of writing) and use as one's own : plagiarize
2
: to use a translation or notes dishonestly
cribber noun

Medical Definition

crib

noun
1
: a manger for feeding animals
2
a
: a stall for a stabled animal
b
: a small child's bedstead with high enclosing usually slatted sides
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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