'Rack' definitions:

Definition of 'rack'

(from WordNet)
noun
Framework for holding objects
noun
Rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton
noun
The destruction or collapse of something; "wrack and ruin" [syn: wrack, rack]
noun
An instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims [syn: rack, wheel]
noun
A support for displaying various articles; "the newspapers were arranged on a rack" [syn: rack, stand]
noun
A form of torture in which pain is inflicted by stretching the body
noun
A rapid gait of a horse in which each foot strikes the ground separately [syn: rack, single-foot]
verb
Go at a rack; "the horses single-footed" [syn: single- foot, rack]
verb
Stretch to the limits; "rack one's brains"
verb
Put on a rack and pinion; "rack a camera"
verb
Obtain by coercion or intimidation; "They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss"; "They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him" [syn: extort, squeeze, rack, gouge, wring]
verb
Run before a gale [syn: scud, rack]
verb
Fly in high wind
verb
Draw off from the lees; "rack wine"
verb
Torment emotionally or mentally [syn: torment, torture, excruciate, rack]
verb
Work on a rack; "rack leather"
verb
Seize together, as of parallel ropes of a tackle in order to prevent running through the block
verb
Torture on the rack

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\ (r[a^]k), n. Same as Arrack. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, n. [AS. hracca neck, hinder part of the head; cf. AS. hraca throat, G. rachen throat, E. retch.] The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, n. [See Wreck.] A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.] [1913 Webster]
  • Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.]
  • To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] "All goes to rack." --Pepys. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, n. [Prob. fr. Icel. rek drift, motion, and akin to reka to drive, and E. wrack, wreck. [root]282.] Thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor in the sky. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds above, which we call the rack, . . . pass without noise. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • And the night rack came rolling up. --C. Kingsley. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, v. i. To fly, as vapor or broken clouds. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Racked (r[a^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Racking.] [See Rack that which stretches, or Rock, v.] To amble fast, causing a rocking or swaying motion of the body; to pace; -- said of a horse. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, n. A fast amble. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, v. t. [Cf. OF. vin raqu['e] wine squeezed from the dregs of the grapes.] To draw off from the lees or sediment, as wine. [1913 Webster]
  • It is in common practice to draw wine or beer from the lees (which we call racking), whereby it will clarify much the sooner. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • Rack vintage, wine cleansed and drawn from the lees. --Cowell. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\, n. [Probably fr. D. rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to stretch, Dan. r[ae]kke, Sw. r[aum]cka, Icel. rekja to spread out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. 'ore`gein. [root]115. Cf. Right, a., Ratch.]
  • 1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending, retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically: (a) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which the body was gradually stretched until, sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly used judicially for extorting confessions from criminals or suspected persons. [1913 Webster]
  • During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a rack was introduced into the Tower, and was occasionally used under the plea of political necessity. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] (b) An instrument for bending a bow. (c) A grate on which bacon is laid. (d) A frame or device of various construction for holding, and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc., supplied to beasts. (e) A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle rack, etc. (f) (Naut.) A piece or frame of wood, having several sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; -- called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot. (g) (Mining) A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed. (h) A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads. (i) A distaff. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mech.) A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work with those of a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive it or be driven by it. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.] --Sir E. Sandys. [1913 Webster]
  • Mangle rack. (Mach.) See under Mangle. n.
  • Rack block. (Naut.) See def. 1 (f), above.
  • Rack lashing, a lashing or binding where the rope is tightened, and held tight by the use of a small stick of wood twisted around.
  • Rack rail (Railroads), a toothed rack, laid as a rail, to afford a hold for teeth on the driving wheel of a locomotive for climbing steep gradients, as in ascending a mountain.
  • Rack saw, a saw having wide teeth.
  • Rack stick, the stick used in a rack lashing.
  • To be on the rack, to suffer torture, physical or mental.
  • To live at rack and manger, to live on the best at another's expense. [Colloq.]
  • To put to the rack, to subject to torture; to torment. [1913 Webster]
  • A fit of the stone puts a king to the rack, and makes him as miserable as it does the meanest subject. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rack'

From: GCIDE
  • Rack \Rack\ (r[a^]k), v. t.
  • 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster]
  • He was racked and miserably tormented. --Foxe. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or anguish. [1913 Webster]
  • Vaunting aloud but racked with deep despair. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To stretch or strain, in a figurative sense; hence, to harass, or oppress by extortion. [1913 Webster]
  • The landlords there shamefully rack their tenants. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • They [landlords] rack their rents an ace too high. --Gascoigne. [1913 Webster]
  • Grant that I may never rack a Scripture simile beyond the true intent thereof. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
  • Try what my credit can in Venice do; That shall be racked even to the uttermost. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mining) To wash on a rack, as metals or ore. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Naut.) To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn, marline, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • To rack one's brains or To rack one's brains out or {To rack one's wits}, to exert one's thinking processes to the utmost for the purpose of accomplishing something; as, I racked my brains out trying to find a way to solve the problem. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Syn: To torture; torment; rend; tear. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'rack'

From: Moby Thesaurus