crib

Everyday

1. (noun, US/Canada) A baby's bed with high barred sides (UK: «cot»). tree →
2. (noun, UK/Ireland/Australia) A model of the stable where Jesus was born, with figures of Mary, Joseph, the baby and animals, set up at Christmas (also «nativity scene»; US «crèche»). tree →
3. (noun) A wooden box or rack that holds food for animals; a manger. tree →
4. (verb, informal) To copy someone else's work and pretend it is yours; to cheat. tree →
5. (noun, informal) A sheet of answers or notes used to cheat (a «crib sheet»), or a quick summary of facts. tree →
6. (noun, slang, US) Someone's house or home: «Welcome to my crib.» tree →
7. (noun) Short for «cribbage», a card game. tree →
8. A crib can also be a small store or bin for holding corn. tree →

In the lessons

In family life: the baby sleeps in a crib (US) or cot (UK). In church life: at Christmas many churches and homes set up a crib, and children may take part in the crib service. At school: cribbing (copying) in a test is cheating and is punished. Slang: «crib» for home is used by teenagers and in songs. Phrases: «crib sheet», «crib from», «the Christmas crib», «crib death» (US for cot death).

Examples

• The baby is fast asleep in her crib. tree →
• At Christmas we put the crib under the tree with little wooden sheep. tree →
• The children placed baby Jesus in the crib at the crib service. tree →
• The cows ate hay from the crib in the barn. tree →
• Don't crib your answers from Jack — do your own work. tree →
• He was caught with a crib sheet in his pencil case. tree →
• "Come round to my crib after school," said my cousin (slang). tree →
• Grandad taught us to play crib. tree →
• The turkey-cock slept on the beam, and the saddle rested in the empty crib. tree →

Note

Regular verb with a doubled B: cribbed, cribbing. UK «cot» = US «crib» for a baby's bed; but in the UK, «crib» is mostly the Christmas nativity scene. Christians believe the baby Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room at the inn. The slang «crib» (home) is informal — not for school writing.

In Jewish tradition

It means a feeding trough or stall for animals, not a baby's bed.

Interpretation. Isaiah says an ox knows its owner and a donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know. The verse is read as a rebuke and is read in the haftarah before Tisha B'Av.

Examples

• Or will he abide by thy crib? (Writings JOB.39.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox. (Writings PRO.14.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. (Prophets ISA.1.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb with a doubled B: cribbed, cribbing. UK «cot» = US «crib» for a baby's bed; but in the UK, «crib» is mostly the Christmas nativity scene. Christians believe the baby Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room at the inn. The slang «crib» (home) is informal — not for school writing.