rhubarb

noun

rhu·barb | \ ˈrü-ˌbärb

Definition of rhubarb

1a : 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

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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

Share a creme brulee with raspberry framboise preserved rhubarb and raspberry crumble ($13) with your date or your friend to end the outing on a sweet note. — Audrey Gorden, RedEye Chicago, "Chicago date idea: Walk the 606 then Mindy's Hot Chocolate," 30 June 2017 Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is broken down, about 12 minutes. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Leslie Kirchhoff, Ice Cube Artist, Shares 3 Spring Cocktail Recipes," 14 May 2019 Chop peeled rhubarb and place in a medium saucepan. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Rhubarb Twists with Rhubarb Compote," 29 Apr. 2019 If the rhubarb still seems thick, cut lengthwise into ¼-inch-wide strips. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "Be Ambitious This Thanksgiving: 3 Bold Recipes From One of L.A.’s Most Talked About Restaurants," 2 Nov. 2018 Turn the heat down to low and allow the rhubarb to simmer 30 minutes. — Maya Wilson, Anchorage Daily News, "Rhubarb meets gin in a rose-colored, refreshing summer cocktail," 5 July 2018 After poaching the rhubarb, the sugar syrup is boiled down into a glaze to be brushed over the cake, adding shine and moisture. — Melissa Clark, New York Times, "Rhubarb Shows Off Its Stripes," 11 May 2018 Mixed thoroughly, then spread on top of the berries and rhubarb in the cooker. — Kim Walker, Woman's Day, "Slow-Cooker Monday: Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler," 28 May 2012 Parents deposited their kids at Main Street’s Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre for free Saturday morning cartoons before loading up on wiffle-bat-sized stalks of rhubarb, braided garlic and lush greens. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "A Getaway to the ‘Tuscany of America’," 27 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rhubarb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for rhubarb

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

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More Definitions for rhubarb

rhubarb

noun

English Language Learners Definition of rhubarb

: a plant with large green leaves and with thick pink or red stems that are cooked and used in pies, jams, etc.

US, informal + old-fashioned : an angry argument

See the full definition for rhubarb in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rhubarb

noun

rhu·barb | \ ˈrü-ˌbärb

Kids Definition of rhubarb

: the thick juicy pink or red stems of a garden plant that have a tart flavor and are used cooked especially in jams and desserts

rhubarb

noun

rhu·barb | \ ˈrü-ˌbärb

Medical Definition of rhubarb

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