rank Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
    • the entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen
  2. noun relative status
    • his salary was determined by his rank and seniority
  3. noun the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army)
    rank and file.
    • the strike was supported by the union rank and file
    • he rose from the ranks to become a colonel
  4. noun position in a social hierarchy
    social rank; social station; social status.
    • the British are more aware of social status than Americans are
  5. noun the body of members of an organization or group
    membership.
    • they polled their membership
    • they found dissension in their own ranks
    • he joined the ranks of the unemployed
  6. verb take or have a position relative to others
    • This painting ranks among the best in the Western World
  7. verb assign a rank or rating to
    grade; range; rate; place; order.
    • how would you rank these students?
    • The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
  8. verb take precedence or surpass others in rank
    outrank.
  9. adjective satellite very fertile; producing profuse growth
    • rank earth
  10. adjective satellite very offensive in smell or taste
    • a rank cigar
  11. adjective satellite conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
    gross; egregious; flagrant; crying; glaring.
    • a crying shame
    • an egregious lie
    • flagrant violation of human rights
    • a glaring error
    • gross ineptitude
    • gross injustice
    • rank treachery
  12. adjective satellite complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
    sheer; right-down; downright; out-and-out; absolute.
    • absolute freedom
    • an absolute dimwit
    • a downright lie
    • out-and-out mayhem
    • an out-and-out lie
    • a rank outsider
    • many right-down vices
    • got the job through sheer persistence
    • sheer stupidity
  13. adjective satellite growing profusely
    • rank jungle vegetation

WordNet

Rank adjective
Etymology
AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.
Wordforms
comparative Ranker ; superlative Rankest
Definitions
  1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.
    And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5.
  2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. "Rank nonsense." Hare. "I do forgive thy rankest fault." Shak.
  3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. Mortimer.
  4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. Spenser.
  5. Strong to the taste. "Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." Boyle.
  6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. Obs. Shak.
Rank adverb
Definitions
  1. Rankly; stoutly; violently. Obs.
    That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax.
Rank noun
Etymology
OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See Ring, and cf. Range, n. & v.
Definitions
  1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.
    Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. Byron.
  2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a).
    Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. Shak.
  3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.
  4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.
  5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.
    These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison.
  6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.
Rank transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Ranked ; present participle & verbal noun Ranking,
Definitions
  1. To place abreast, or in a line.
  2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.
    Ranking all things under general and special heads. I. Watts.
    Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome.
    Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Dr. H. More.
  3. To take rank of; to outrank. U.S.
Rank intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, an in a particular degree, class, order, or division.
    Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak.
  2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

Webster 1913