Meaning of rack in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
/ræk/US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Verb
rackEtymology
late 15th century: from Provençal arracar, from raca‘stems and husks of grapes, dregs’Definitions
1. go at a rackExamples
- « the horses single-footed »
Derived terms
- 2. stretch to the limits
Examples
- « rack one's brains »
- 3. put on a rack and pinion
Examples
- « rack a camera »
- 4. obtain by coercion or intimidation
Examples
- « They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss »
- « They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him »
Derived terms
- 5. run before a gale
Derived terms
- 6. fly in high wind
- 7. draw off from the lees
Examples
- « rack wine »
- 8. torment emotionally or mentally
Derived terms
- 9. work on a rack
Examples
- « rack leather »
- 10. seize together, as of parallel ropes of a tackle in order to prevent running through the block
- 11. torture on the rack
Derived terms
Noun
rackEtymology
Middle English: from Middle Dutch rec, Middle Low German rek‘horizontal bar or shelf’, probably from recken‘to stretch, reach’ (possibly the source of rack (sense 1 of the verb))Definitions
1. framework for holding objects- 2. rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton
- 3. the destruction or collapse of something
Examples
- « wrack and ruin »
Derived terms
- 4. an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims
Derived terms
- 5. a support for displaying various articles
Examples
- « the newspapers were arranged on a rack »
- 6. a rapid gait of a horse in which each foot strikes the ground separately
Derived terms
Famous quotes
- « And you know, the baby boomers are getting older, and those off the rack clothes are just not fitting right any longer, and so, tailor-made suits are coming back into fashion. » Amy Irving