What does rhubarb mean?
Word: Rhubarb
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Rhubarb means a garden plant with long pink or red stalks, which are cooked with sugar and eaten as a dessert.
How do you spell rhubarb?
Syllables: rhu - barb
Tricky part: A silent h follows the r at the very start, so the word sounds as if it begins with roo.
Watch out for: rubarb, roobarb
Memory tip: Rhino and rhyme open the same way: after the r, add a silent h.
Rhubarb in a sentence
Example 1: My aunt in London bakes a rhubarb pie every spring.
Example 2: We saw bright pink rhubarb stalks at the farmers' market.
Example 3: Grandfather grows rhubarb in a shady corner of his garden.
Fun Fact
In British theatre, crowd actors have traditionally muttered the word rhubarb again and again, because it sounds like a busy conversation in the background.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. rhubarb 2. rhythm 3. rhyme 4. rhino
a) 4312
b) 4132
c) 3412
d) 1432
Show answer
b) 4132. All four share their first two letters, so the third decides, and then m comes before t for the last two.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
ubrahrb 1234567
a) 4165372
b) 2163457
c) 3512467
d) 1427356
Show answer
c) 3512467. Follow the digits and these seven letters make the name of the pink-stalked plant.
Sound Check
In which word is 'u' pronounced differently?
a) rhubarb
b) ruby
c) rubber
d) ruler
Show answer
c) rubber. Rubber has the short u of cup, while the other three have a long oo sound.
Spell Probe
Fill the blanks with 'u' and 'a'. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
1. rh__b__rb 2. g__rl__c 3. l__nt__l 4. sp__n__ch
a) a leafy green vegetable often eaten in salads
b) a small round seed that is cooked to make soups and stews
c) a plant with long stalks, often stewed for puddings
d) a bulb with a strong smell, used to flavour food
Show answer
c) a plant with long stalks, often stewed for puddings. These two letters fit only the first word; garlic, lentil and spinach need other vowels.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why would a cook add plenty of sugar to rhubarb?
a) its colour fades in the heat
b) its leaves are full of water
c) its roots are hard to chop
d) its stalks taste very sour
Show answer
d) its stalks taste very sour
2. In which dish would you most expect to taste rhubarb?
a) a toasted cheese sandwich
b) a fruit crumble with custard
c) a plate of vegetable fried rice
d) a bowl of hot tomato soup
Show answer
b) a fruit crumble with custard
