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n. 1. a. A relative position in a society. b. An official position or grade: the rank of sergeant. c. A relative position or degree of value in a graded group. d. High or eminent station or position: persons of rank. 2. A row, line, series, or range. 3. a. A line of soldiers, vehicles, or equipment standing side by side in close order. b. ranks The armed forces. c. ranks Personnel, especially enlisted military personnel. 4. ranks A body of people classed together; numbers: joined the ranks of the unemployed. 5. Games Any of the rows of squares running crosswise to the files on a playing board in chess or checkers. v. ranked, rank·ing, ranks v.tr. 1. To place in a row or rows. 2. To give a particular order or position to; classify. 3. To outrank or take precedence over. v.intr. Idiom: 1. To hold a particular rank: ranked first in the class. 2. To form or stand in a row or rows. 3. Slang a. To complain. b. To engage in carping criticism. Often used with on: Stop ranking on me all the time. pull rank To use one's superior rank to gain an advantage. [Middle English, line, row, from Old French ranc, renc, of Germanic origin; see sker-2 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.
adj. rank·er, rank·est 1. Growing profusely or with excessive vigor: rank vegetation. 2. Yielding a profuse, often excessive crop; highly fertile: rank earth. 3. Strong and offensive in odor or flavor: rank gym clothes. [Middle English ranc, from Old English, strong, overbearing; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] rankly adv. rankness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
