# rhubarb

/ˈɹuˌbɑɹb/ (US) · /ɹˈuːbɑːb/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rhubarb
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a type of plant with thick, red stalks that people use in cooking. It is also a name for a type of loud, high-pitched sound made by a plane or a machine.

For teachers: a perennial plant of the genus Rheum, cultivated for its edible stalks. In a military or technical context, it refers to a high-pitched, screeching noise produced by aircraft engines or machinery.

## Examples

- We made a delicious rhubarb pie for the weekend.
- The pilot reported hearing a loud rhubarb from the engine as they approached the runway.
- While the culinary use of rhubarb remains popular in certain regional desserts, its technical application in aviation is often used to describe the high-frequency vibrations that indicate a mechanical failure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.