rank

Rank is someone's status or position, especially in society or in the military.

(noun)

  1. A general is an example of a very high military rank.
  2. A person's class status is an example of his rank in society.

To rank is to put things in some type of order, based on a set criteria.

(verb)

When sports players are put in order based on how many home runs they hit, this is an example of a time when sports players are ranked.

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See rank in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a row, line, or series
  2. an orderly arrangement
  3. a social division or class; stratum of society: people from all ranks of life
  4. a high position in society; high degree; eminence: a person of rank
  5. an official grade or position: the rank of captain
  6. a relative position, usually in a scale classifying persons or things; grade; degree: a poet of the first rank
  7. any of the rows of squares on a chessboard extending from side to side, perpendicular to the files
  8. Mil.
    1. a row of soldiers, vehicles, etc. placed side by side, or abreast of one another
    2. the body of soldiers of an army, as distinguished from the officers [to rise from the ranks]: often used metaphorically to refer to the ordinary members of any group, as opposed to its leaders
  9. Music stop ()

Origin: MFr renc < OFr ranc, renc: see range

transitive verb

  1. to place in a rank or ranks
  2. to assign a certain rank, or position, to
  3. ☆ to have a higher rank than; outrank

intransitive verb

  1. to hold a certain rank, or position: to rank third on a list
  2. Archaic to form a rank or move in ranks

adjective

  1. growing vigorously and coarsely; overly luxuriant: rank grass
  2. producing or covered with a luxuriant crop; extremely fertile
  3. strong and offensive in smell or taste; rancid
  4. in bad taste; coarse
  5. complete; utter: rank deceit
  6. Obsolete in sexual heat

Origin: ME ranke < OE ranc, strong, proud, akin to MLowG rank, slender, erect, long and thin < IE base *reĝ-, put in order, stretch out > right

Related Forms:

See rank in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A relative position in a society.
    b. An official position or grade: the rank of sergeant.
    c. A relative position or degree of value in a graded group.
    d. High or eminent station or position: persons of rank.
  2. A row, line, series, or range.
  3. a. A line of soldiers, vehicles, or equipment standing side by side in close order.
    b. ranks The armed forces.
    c. ranks Personnel, especially enlisted military personnel.
  4. ranks A body of people classed together; numbers: joined the ranks of the unemployed.
  5. Games Any of the rows of squares running crosswise to the files on a playing board in chess or checkers.
verb ranked, rank·ing, ranks
verb, transitive
  1. To place in a row or rows.
  2. To give a particular order or position to; classify.
  3. To outrank or take precedence over.
verb, intransitive
  1. To hold a particular rank: ranked first in the class.
  2. To form or stand in a row or rows.
  3. Slang
    a. To complain.
    b. To engage in carping criticism. Often used with on: Stop ranking on me all the time.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, line, row

Origin: , from Old French ranc, renc

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots

.

adjective rank·er, rank·est
  1. Growing profusely or with excessive vigor: rank vegetation in the jungle.
  2. Yielding a profuse, often excessive crop; highly fertile: rank earth.
  3. Strong and offensive in odor or flavor.
  4. Conspicuously offensive: rank treachery. See Synonyms at flagrant.
  5. Absolute; complete: a rank amateur; a rank stranger.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English ranc

Origin: , from Old English, strong, overbearing; see reg- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • rankˈly adverb
  • rankˈness noun

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