rhubarb

noun

rhu·​barb ˈrü-ˌbärb 

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

• quarrel
• dispute
• altercation
• fight
• controversy
• disagreement
• argument
• row
• cross fire

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

Left on the kitchen counter were cut up limes and rhubarb custard pie. —Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 14 June 2026

At Americana Kitchen at Loews Coral Gables Hotel, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Cristalino shaken with lychee, rhubarb, St-Germain, bianco vermouth and lemon, then clarified through a milk wash for a silky finish. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Easy and elegant, this rolled riff on pavlova is filled with strawberries and berry-rhubarb jam. —Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026

These include artichoke, asparagus, lovage, rhubarb, sea kale, and sorrel. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 2 June 2026

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

Rhymes for rhubarb

• aldicarb
• arb
• barb
• barbe
• garb

Kids Definition

rhubarb

noun

rhu·​barb ˈrü-ˌbärb 

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 

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