range

range / rānj/ • n. 1. the area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale: the cost is thought to be in the range of $1-5 million a day it's outside my price range. ∎  a set of different things of the same general type: the area offers a wide range of activities for the tourist. ∎  the scope of a person's knowledge or abilities: he gave some indication of his range. ∎  the compass of a person's voice or of a musical instrument: she was gifted with an incredible vocal range. ∎  the extent of time covered by something such as a forecast. See also long-range, short-range. ∎  the area or extent covered by or included in something: an introductory guide to the range of debate this issue has generated. ∎  Math. the set of values that a given function can take as its argument varies. 2. the distance within which a person can see or hear: something lurked just beyond her range of vision. ∎  the maximum distance at which a radio transmission can be effectively received: planets within radio range of Earth. ∎  the distance that can be covered by a vehicle or aircraft without refueling: the vans have a range of 125 miles. ∎  the maximum distance to which a gun will shoot or over which a missile will travel: a duck came within range | these rockets have a range of 30 to 40 miles. ∎  the distance between a gun, missile, shot, or blow and its objective: a dog sidled up to them, stopping just out of range of a kick. ∎  the distance between a camera and the subject to be photographed. ∎ Surveying the horizontal direction and length of a survey line determined by at least two fixed points. 3. a line or series of mountains or hills: the coastal ranges of the northwest. ∎  a series of townships extending north and south parallel to the principal meridian of a survey. ∎  Naut. a line defined by landmarks or beacons, used to locate something offshore, esp. a navigable channel or a hazard. 4. a large area of open land for grazing or hunting. ∎  an area of land or sea used as a testing ground for military equipment. ∎  an open or enclosed area with targets for shooting practice. ∎  the area over which a thing, esp. a plant or animal, is distributed. 5. an electric or gas stove with several burners and one or more ovens. 6. Building a course of masonry extending from end to end at one height. ∎  a row of buildings. 7. archaic the direction or position in which something lies: the range of the hills and valleys is nearly from north to south. • v. 1. [intr.] vary or extend between specified limits: patients whose ages ranged from 13 to 25 years. 2. [tr.] (usu. be ranged) place or arrange in a row or rows or in a specified order or manner: a table with half a dozen chairs ranged around it. ∎  [intr.] run or extend in a line in a particular direction: he regularly came to the benches that ranged along the path. 3. [intr.] (of a person or animal) travel or wander over a wide area: patrols ranged thousands of miles deep into enemy territory | [tr.] nomadic tribesmen who ranged the windswept lands of the steppe. ∎  (of a person's eyes) pass from one person or thing to another: his eyes ranged over them. ∎  (of something written or spoken) cover or embrace a wide number of different topics: tutorials ranged over a variety of subjects. 4. [intr.] obtain the range of a target by adjustment after firing past it or short of it, or by the use of radar or laser equipment: radar-type transmissions which appeared to be ranging on our convoys. ∎  (of a projectile) cover a specified distance. ∎  (of a gun) send a projectile over a specified distance. PHRASES: at a range of with a specified distance between one person or thing and another: a bat can detect a moth at a range of less than 8 feet.