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ration

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To ration is to limit the amount of something that a person or animal can have.

(verb)

When you only let your dog have a cup of food a day, this is an example of a situation where you ration your dog's food.

The definition of a ration is a fixed amount of something that is provided on a regular basis, or that is the limit of how much you are permitted to have.

(noun)

Food provided to soldiers is an example of a ration.
The amount of food you are allowed during a war or other time of scarcity is an example of a ration.

See ration in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a fixed portion; share; allowance
a fixed allowance or allotment of food or provisions, esp. a fixed daily allowance, as for a soldier
food or food supply, as for soldiers, explorers, etc.

Origin: MFr < ML ratio, ration < L, a reckoning: see reason

transitive verb

to supply with a ration or rations
to distribute (food, clothing, etc.) in rations, as in times of scarcity

See ration in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A fixed portion, especially an amount of food allotted to persons in military service or to civilians in times of scarcity.
rations Food issued or available to members of a group.

transitive verb ra·tioned, ra·tion·ing, ra·tions

To supply with rations.
To distribute as rations: rationed out flour and sugar. See Synonyms at distribute.
To restrict to limited allotments, as during wartime.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Latin ratiō, ratiōn-, calculation; see ratio

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