'Rank' definitions:

Definition of 'rank'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Very fertile; producing profuse growth; "rank earth"
adjective
Very offensive in smell or taste; "a rank cigar"
adjective
Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible; "a crying shame"; "an egregious lie"; "flagrant violation of human rights"; "a glaring error"; "gross ineptitude"; "gross injustice"; "rank treachery" [syn: crying(a), egregious, flagrant, glaring, gross, rank]
adjective
Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers; "absolute freedom"; "an absolute dimwit"; "a downright lie"; "out-and-out mayhem"; "an out-and-out lie"; "a rank outsider"; "many right-down vices"; "got the job through sheer persistence"; "sheer stupidity" [syn: absolute, downright, out-and-out(a), rank(a), right-down, sheer(a)]
adjective
Growing profusely; "rank jungle vegetation"
noun
A row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another; "the entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen"
noun
Relative status; "his salary was determined by his rank and seniority"
noun
The ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army); "the strike was supported by the union rank and file"; "he rose from the ranks to become a colonel" [syn: rank and file, rank]
noun
Position in a social hierarchy; "the British are more aware of social status than Americans are" [syn: social station, social status, social rank, rank]
noun
The body of members of an organization or group; "they polled their membership"; "they found dissension in their own ranks"; "he joined the ranks of the unemployed" [syn: membership, rank]
verb
Take or have a position relative to others; "This painting ranks among the best in the Western World"
verb
Assign a rank or rating to; "how would you rank these students?"; "The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide" [syn: rate, rank, range, order, grade, place]
verb
Take precedence or surpass others in rank [syn: rank, outrank]

Definition of 'Rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\ (r[a^][ng]k), a. [Compar. Ranker (r[a^][ng]k"[~e]r); superl. Rankest.] [AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.]
  • 1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds. [1913 Webster]
  • And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. --Gen. xli. 5. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. "Rank nonsense." --Hare. "I do forgive thy rankest fault." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Strong to the taste. "Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Rank modus (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3.
  • To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank, to set so as to take off a thick shaving. --Moxon. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\, adv. Rankly; stoutly; violently. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. --Fairfax. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\, n. [OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See Ring, and cf. Range, n. & v.]
  • 1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers. [1913 Webster]
  • Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a) . [1913 Webster]
  • Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank. [1913 Webster]
  • These all are virtues of a meaner rank. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank. [1913 Webster]
  • Rank and file. (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ranked (r[a^][ng]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking.]
  • 1. To place abreast, or in a line. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify. [1913 Webster]
  • Ranking all things under general and special heads. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
  • Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. --Broome. [1913 Webster]
  • Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. --Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To take rank of; to outrank. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\, v. i.
  • 1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division. [1913 Webster]
  • Let that one article rank with the rest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'rank'

From: GCIDE
  • Rank \Rank\ (r[a^][ng]k), a. [Compar. Ranker (r[a^][ng]k"[~e]r); superl. Rankest.] [AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.]
  • 1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds. [1913 Webster]
  • And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. --Gen. xli. 5. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. "Rank nonsense." --Hare. "I do forgive thy rankest fault." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Strong to the taste. "Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Rank modus (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3.
  • To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank, to set so as to take off a thick shaving. --Moxon. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Rank'