Pronunciation: /dʒɪb/

Definitions of jib

noun a jibe, or change of a ship's course from one side to the other.

Example Sentences

A1 The sailor adjusted the jib on the sailboat.

A2 She tied the jib securely to the mast before setting sail.

B1 The jib of the ship flapped in the wind as they changed direction.

B2 The crew quickly hoisted the jib to catch the wind and increase speed.

C1 The intricate design of the jib allowed for precise control of the sailboat.

C2 The jib trimmer made small adjustments to optimize the sail's performance in the race.

verb to shift from one side to the other when running before the wind, as a fore-and-aft sail or its boom.

Example Sentences

A1 I jibbed when I saw the spider.

A2 The horse jibbed at the sight of the water crossing.

B1 The sailor had to jib the sail to change direction.

B2 The politician tried to jib the question and redirect the conversation.

C1 The company decided to jib the original plan and go in a different direction.

C2 The negotiator was skilled at jibbing the terms of the agreement to benefit their client.

Examples of jib in a Sentence

formal The sailor adjusted the jib to catch the wind more effectively.

informal Make sure to pull in the jib before we head back to shore.

slang I can't believe he jibbed out on us at the last minute.

figurative Her mood seemed to jib back and forth unpredictably throughout the day.

Grammatical Forms of jib

past tense

jibbed

plural

jibs

comparative

more jib

superlative

most jib

present tense

jibs

future tense

will jib

perfect tense

have jibbed

continuous tense

is jibbing

singular

jib

positive degree

jib

infinitive

to jib

gerund

jibbing

participle

jibbed

Origin and Evolution of jib

First Known Use: 1680 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'jib' is believed to have originated from the Old French word 'gibe' meaning 'a shifting back and forth'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'jib' evolved to refer specifically to the triangular sail at the front of a sailboat, used for sailing downwind.