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rate 1 (rāt)
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n.
1. A quantity measured with respect to another measured quantity: a rate of speed of 60 miles an hour.
2. A measure of a part with respect to a whole; a proportion: the mortality rate; a tax rate.
3. The cost per unit of a commodity or service: postal rates.
4. A charge or payment calculated in relation to a particular sum or quantity: interest rates.
5. Level of quality.
6. often rates Chiefly British A locally assessed property tax.
v. rat·ed, rat·ing, rates
v.tr.
1.
a. To place in a particular class, rank, or grade: rated the film PG13; rated the bonds at junk level. See Synonyms at estimate.
b. To specify the performance limits of, especially according to a standard scale: This fuse is rated at 50 amperes. The fishing line is rated for 30 pounds.
2. To regard or consider as having a certain value: rated the movie excellent; rated him a fine cook.
3. Chiefly British To value for purposes of taxation.
4. To set a rate for (goods to be shipped).
5. Informal To merit or deserve: people that rate special treatment; an idea that rates attention. See Synonyms at earn.
v.intr.
1. To be ranked in a particular class: a wine that rates higher than any other.
2. Informal To have status, importance, or influence: Tea-flavored ice cream doesn't rate highly in my book.
Idiom:
at any rate
1. Whatever the case may be; in any case: You should at any rate apologize.
2. Used to indicate a revision or correction to a previous remark: We were delighted, or at any rate satisfied, with the results.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, proportion, short for Latin (prō) ratā (parte), (according to a) fixed (part), from feminine ablative past participle of rērī, to consider, reckon; see ar- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
rate 2 (rāt)
Share:
v. rat·ed, rat·ing, rates
Archaic
v.tr.
To berate.
v.intr.
To express reproof.

[Middle English raten, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.