range

transitive verb ranged, rang′·ing

1. to arrange in a certain order; esp., to set in a row or rows
2. to put into the proper class or classes; systematize
3. to place with others in a cause, party, etc. to range oneself with the rebels
4. to put (a gun, telescope, etc.) in a line with the target or object, at a proper angle of elevation; train
5. Now Rare to make level or even
6. to travel over or through; roam about to range the woods
7. to travel or move along to range the coastline
8. ☆ to put out (cattle, etc.) to graze on a range
9. to arrange (the anchor cable) in even rows on deck

Etymology: ME rangen < OFr ranger, var. of rengier, to arrange in a circle, row (> ME rengen) < renc < Frank *hring, akin to OE, OHG hring, ring

intransitive verb

1. to extend, reach, or lie in a given direction or in a row hills ranging toward the south
2. to wander about; roam
3. to move about an area, as in hunting dogs ranging through the woods
4. to have a specified range a gun that ranges five miles
5. to vary between stated limits children ranging in age from 5 to 12
6. Biol. to be native to a specified region

noun

1. a row, line, or series; rank
2. a class, kind, or order
3. a series of connected mountains considered as a single system
4. 1. the maximum effective horizontal distance that a weapon can fire its projectile
   2. the horizontal distance from a weapon to its target
   3. the path of flight for a missile or rocket
   4. the distance to or from any target, goal, or object of interest to view a wild animal at close range
5. the maximum distance a plane, etc. can travel without fueling
6. 1. a place for shooting practice
   2. a place for testing rockets in flight
7. the full extent over which something moves or is heard, seen, understood, effective, etc.; scope the range of one's studies
8. full extent of pitch, from highest to lowest tones, of a voice, instrument, composition, etc.
9. a wandering or roaming
10. ☆ a large, open area of land over which livestock can wander and graze
11. the limits of possible variations of amount, degree, etc. a wide range of prices
12. a unit for cooking, typically including an oven and surface heating units and usually operated by gas or electricity
13. ☆ in U.S. public surveying, a strip of land between two meridian lines six miles apart, constituting a row of townships
14. Biol. the region to which a plant or animal is native
15. Math. the set of all distinct values that may be taken on by a given function
16. Statistics the difference between the largest and smallest values in a sample

Etymology: ME reng < OFr renc

adjective

of a range, or open grazing place