rabi

1 of 2

noun (1)

ra·​bi ˈrə-bē 

: the Indian subcontinent's spring harvest

Note: Rabi is the Indian subcontinent's primary harvest and consists of various crops, including wheat, barley, pulses, and mustard.

compare kharif

Rabi

2 of 2

noun (2)

Ra·​bi ˈrə-bē 

: either of two months of the Islamic year:

a

: rabi al-awwal

b

: rabi al-thani

Examples of rabi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In southern and central India, the rabi has already been harvested or is being gathered now. —Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 4 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Hindi rabī and Urdu rabīʼ "spring, the spring crop or harvest," borrowed from Arabic rabīʼ "fourth part, spring"

Noun (2)

Arabic rabīʽ

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1783, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1769, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rabi

• Rabi al-Awwal
• Rabi al-Thani

Biographical Definition

Rabi

biographical name

Ra·​bi ˈrä-bē 

Isidor Isaac 1898–1988 American (Austrian-born) physicist