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Rack definition

răk
racked racking racks
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Frequency:
An instrument of torture on which the victim's body was stretched.
noun
6
1
To torture by means of the rack.
verb
4
0
A pair of antlers.
noun
4
1
An instrument of torture having a frame on which the victim's body is bound and stretched until the limbs are pulled out of place.
noun
4
1
A toothed bar that meshes with a gearwheel, pinion, or other toothed machine part.
noun
2
0
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To place (billiard balls, for example) in a rack.
verb
2
1
To drain (wine or cider) from the dregs.
verb
2
1
A framework, grating, case, stand, etc. for holding or displaying various things.

Clothes rack, dish rack, pipe rack, bomb rack.

noun
1
0
A lift used for automotive vehicles.
noun
1
0
A frame for holding cases of type.
noun
1
0
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A toothed bar into which a pinion, worm gear, etc. meshes for receiving or transmitting motion, as in automotive steering systems.
noun
1
0
A pair of antlers.
noun
1
0
Any great mental or physical torment, or its cause.
noun
1
0
A triangular form for arranging billiard balls at the beginning of a game of pool.
noun
1
0
The billiard balls as set up before the break.
noun
1
0
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To arrange in or on a rack.
verb
1
0
To torture on a rack.
verb
1
0
To trouble, torment, or afflict.

A body racked with pain.

verb
1
0
noun
1
0
Destruction; wreckage.
noun
1
0
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To be blown by the wind.
verb
1
0
A frame or cabinet into which hardware components are mounted. Equipment may be bolted into the rack (see rack mounted), or placed on shelves. Stereo and home theater racks are cabinets with shelves designed to accommodate VCRs, CD, DVD and cassette decks, receivers, amplifiers and set-top boxes, all of which are typically 17" wide. See deck.
1
0
(vulgar slang) A woman's breasts.
noun
1
1
To cause great physical or mental suffering to.

Pain racked his entire body.

verb
1
1
To go or move at a rack.
verb
1
1
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A wrenching or upheaval, as by a storm.
noun
1
1
The definition of a rack is something used to display or hold things.

An example of a rack is a hall tree to hang hats and jackets.

noun
0
0
A framework or stand in or on which to hold, hang, or display various articles.

A trophy rack; a rack for baseball bats in the dugout; a drying rack for laundry.

noun
0
0
(games) A triangular frame for arranging billiard or pool balls at the start of a game.
noun
0
0
A receptacle for livestock feed.
noun
0
0
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A frame for holding bombs in an aircraft.
noun
0
0
A bunk or bed.
noun
0
0
Sleep.

Tried to get some rack.

noun
0
0
A cause of intense anguish.
noun
0
0
A fast, flashy, four-beat gait of a horse in which each foot touches the ground separately and at equal intervals.
noun
0
0
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A thin mass of wind-driven clouds.
noun
0
0
The neck and upper spine of mutton, pork, or veal.
noun
0
0
A wholesale rib cut of lamb or veal between the shoulder and the loin.
noun
0
0
A retail rib cut of lamb or veal, prepared for roasting or for rib chops.
noun
0
0
To oppress by unfair demands, esp. by exacting exorbitant rents.
verb
0
0
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To raise (rents) to an exorbitant degree.
verb
0
0
A broken mass of clouds blown by the wind.
noun
0
0
To draw off (cider, wine, etc.) from the dregs.
verb
0
0
The neck or forepart of the spine, especially of mutton or pork.
noun
0
0
The rib section of lamb, usually including eight or nine pairs of ribs, used for a roast or for rib chops.
noun
0
0
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A state of intense anguish.
noun
0
1
off the rack
  • Ready-made. Used of clothing.
idiom
1
0
on the rack
  • Under great stress.
idiom
1
0
rack (one's) brains
  • To try hard to remember or think of something.
idiom
1
0
off the rack
  • ready-made
idiom
1
0
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on the rack
  • in a very difficult or painful situation
idiom
1
0
rack one's brains
  • to try very hard to remember or think of something
idiom
1
0
(slang) rack up
  • to gain, score, or achieve
    To rack up a victory.
  • to be the victor over or beat decisively
  • to knock down, as with a punch
  • to injure, wreck, or destroy, as in an accident
    racked up the car.
idiom
1
0

Alternative Forms

Alternative Form of rack - wrack 1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
rack
Plural:
racks

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

on the rack
rack (one's) brains
on the rack
rack one's brains

Origin of rack

  • Middle English rakken from Old Provençal arracar from raca stems and husks of grapes

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English rakke probably from Middle Dutch rec framework reg- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English rak probably of Scandinavian origin Swedish rak wreckage

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Probably from rack

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Rack Sentence Examples

  • The towels on the towel rack appeared to have their creases ironed into them.

  • He placed the sword in a rack with others and exited into the night.

  • She placed the dish in the rack and glanced at Katie.

  • In this case the rack had pin teeth carried in a pair of angle bars.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near rack in the Dictionary