رَتَبٌ

The steps of stairs. (M, TA.)

Rocks near together, some of them higher than others: (M, K:) [a coll. gen. n.:] n. un. ↓ رَتَبَةٌ; mentioned on the authority of Yaakoob as [written ↓ رُتَبٌ,] with damm to the ر and fet-h to the ت. (M.)

Elevated ground, (S, K,) like a بَرْزَخ [or bar, or an obstruction, between two things: apparently a coll. gen. n. in this sense also; n. un. with ة; for] you say ↓ رَتَبَةٌ and رَتَبٌ like as you say دَرَجَةٌ and دَرَجٌ. (S.)

Hardness, or difficulty: (S, A, K:) coarseness, hardness, or difficulty, of life or living: (M, K: *) fatigue, weariness, embarrassment, or trouble; as also ↓ مَرْتَبَةٌ. (M.) You say, مَا فِى عَيْشِهِ رَتَبٌ (T, S, M, A) There is no hardness, or difficulty, in his life or living: (S, A:) or no coarseness, hardness, or difficulty. (M.) And مَا فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ رَتَبٌ, and ↓ مَرْتَبَةٌ, There is no fatigue, weariness, embarrassment, or trouble, in this affair. (M.) And مَا فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ رَتَبٌ وَلا عَتَبٌ There is not in this affair any hardness, or difficulty: (S:) or any fatigue, or trouble: (T:) i. e. it is easy, and rightly disposed. (T, A.)

-A2- Also The space between the little finger and that next to it, namely, the third finger, [when they are extended apart:] and the space between the third finger and the middle finger [when they are so extended]: (M, K:) or the space between the fore finger and the middle finger [when they are so extended]: sometimes written and pronounced ↓ رَتْبٌ: (S, TA:) [or it is a coll. gen. n.; and] ↓ رَتَبَةٌ [is the n. un., and] signifies the space between [any two of] the fingers. (TA in article رتق. [See also بُصْمٌ.]) It denotes also The [space that is measured by] putting the four fingers close together. (K. [See also عَتَبٌ.])