rank

views updated May 14 2018

rank1 / rangk/ • n. 1. a position in the hierarchy of the armed forces: an army officer of fairly high rank he was promoted to the rank of Captain. ∎  a position within the hierarchy of an organization or society: only two cabinet members had held ministerial rank before. ∎  high social position: persons of rank and breeding. ∎  Statistics a number specifying position in a numerically ordered series.2. a single line of soldiers or police officers drawn up abreast. ∎  (the ranks) common soldiers as opposed to officers: he was fined and reduced to the ranks. ∎  (ranks) the people belonging to or constituting a group or class: the ranks of the unemployed. ∎  a regular row or line of things or people: conifer plantations growing in serried ranks. ∎  Chess each of the eight rows of eight squares running from side to side across a chessboard. Compare with file2 .3. Math. the value or the order of the largest nonzero determinant of a given matrix. ∎  an analogous quantity in other kinds of groups.• v. [tr.] 1. give (someone or something) a rank or place within a grading system: rank them in order of preference| [tr.] she is ranked number four in the world. ∎  [intr.] have a specified rank or place within a grading system: he ranks with Newman as one of the outstanding English theologians ∎  [tr.] take precedence over (someone) in respect to rank; outrank: the Secretary of State ranks all the other members of the cabinet.2. arrange in a rank or ranks: the tents were ranked in orderly rows.PHRASES: break rank (or ranks) (of soldiers or police officers) fail to remain in line. ∎ fig. fail to maintain solidarity: the government is prepared to break ranks with the Allied states.close ranks (of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line. ∎ fig. unite in order to defend common interests: the family had always closed ranks in times of crisis.keep rank (of soldiers or police officers) remain in line.pull rank take unfair advantage of one's seniority or privileged position.rise through (or from) the ranks (of a private or a noncommissioned officer) receive a commission. ∎  advance in an organization by one's own efforts: he rose through the ranks to become managing director.rank2 • adj. 1. (of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely. 2. (esp. of air or water) having a foul or offensive smell. 3. (esp. of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis): rank stupidity rank amateurs a rank outsider.DERIVATIVES: rank·ly adv.rank·ness n.

rank

views updated May 08 2018

rank
1. Category of stratigraphic unit or geologic-time unit, classed according to magnitude or duration.

2. The grade or purity of a substance (referring particularly to coal).

Rank

views updated May 29 2018

Rank

row or line, 1570; series or tier; a social group.

Examples : rank of baskets, 1693; of carriages; of criminals, 1585; of death, 1813; of geese and ganders, 1577; of nobles, 1596; of opposition, 1855; of organ pipes, 1811; of osiers, 1600; of poor, lame and impotent persons, 1597; of prejudices, 1725; of the priesthood, 1874; of soldiers, 1668; of swelling streams, 1697; of taxi-cabs; of teeth, 1590; of trees; of poetic tribe, 1781; of war, 1738; of wretched youths, 1697.

rank

views updated May 29 2018

rank2
A. †proud, rebellious OE.; †stout and strong XII; †swift, violent XIII;

B. †full-grown OE.; vigorous or luxuriant of growth; coarsely luxuriant XIII; grossly rich or fertile; gross, coarse in manner XIV; of offensively strong smell; absolute, downright XVI. OE. ranc proud, stout, valiant, showy in dress = (M)LG. rank long and thin, ON. rakkr erect, f. Gmc. *raŋkaz.

rank

views updated May 21 2018

rank (category) The position or status of a taxon in a classification hierarchy. Examples of ranks are the class, order, family, genus, and species.

rank

views updated Jun 08 2018

rank pull rank take unfair advantage of one's seniority.
rank and file the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders (referring to the ‘ranks’ and ‘files’ into which privates and non-commissioned officers form on parade).

See also ranks.

rank

views updated Jun 08 2018

rank
1. The number of linearly independent rows or columns of a matrix of numbers.

2. of a graph. See connected graph.

rank

views updated May 18 2018

rank1 row, line; grade of station or dignity. XVI. — OF. ranc, var. of renc (now rang) — Gmc. *χreŋgaz RING1.

rank

views updated May 18 2018

rank. Each separate set of org. pipes, particularly mixture stops.