HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY
To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.
Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.
THE USAGE PANEL
The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP
The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG
The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.
INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?
Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com
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. Idiom: 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. 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.
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.
