rhubarb

noun

rhu·​barb ˈrü-ˌbärb How to pronounce rhubarb (audio)
Synonyms of rhubarbnext
1
a
: any of a genus (Rheum) of Asian plants of the buckwheat family having large leaves with thick petioles often used as food
also : the petioles of rhubarb
b
: the tart, succulent, usually pink or red petioles of rhubarb used especially in pies and preserves
2
: the dried rhizome and roots of any of various rhubarbs (such as Rheum officinale and R. palmatum) grown chiefly in temperate parts of China and used in folk medicine especially as a laxative, diuretic, and ulcer treatment
3
: a heated dispute or controversy

Synonyms of rhubarb

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Examples of rhubarb in a Sentence

The coach got into a rhubarb with the umpire. a basketball coach whose ranting rhubarbs with officials are the stuff of legend
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My son often ordered a five-course dinner featuring proteins, later followed by a juicy room-service cheeseburger and one of SeaDream’s exclusive tea blends, a pot of rhubarb ginger rose. — Amanda Eyre Ward, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026 The 24-piece box comes with miniature jars of jams and spreads like fig and cardamom, caramel and dark chocolate, rhubarb and strawberry, apricot and honey, and more. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026 Sacha Vadier, assistant executive pastry chef at Cheval Blanc, said guests would be tasting the rhubarb mochi, a trompe-l’oeil sushi topped with slices of poached rhubarb. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Her sister-in-law made the couple’s cake, a buttercream amaretto cake with strawberry rhubarb filling, and even used flowers from the garden to decorate it. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rhubarb

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rubarbe, from Anglo-French reubarbe, from Medieval Latin reubarbarum, alteration of rha barbarum, literally, barbarian rhubarb

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhubarb was in the 15th century

Rhymes for rhubarb

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Browse Nearby Words

RHQ
rhubarb
rhum
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Cite this Entry

“Rhubarb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhubarb. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rhubarb

noun
rhu·​barb ˈrü-ˌbärb How to pronounce rhubarb (audio)
1
: a plant related to buckwheat and having large green leaves with thick juicy pink or red stems that are used for food
2
: a heated dispute or argument

Medical Definition

rhubarb

noun
rhu·​barb ˈrü-ˌbärb How to pronounce rhubarb (audio)
1
: any of several plants of the genus Rheum having large leaves with thick succulent petioles often used as food
2
: the dried rhizome and roots of any of several rhubarbs (especially Rheum officinale and R. palmatum) grown in China and Tibet and used as a purgative and stomachic

More from Merriam-Webster on rhubarb

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rhubarb

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