Definition of rack
:a wind-driven mass of high often broken clouds
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Origin and Etymology of rack
Middle English rak rain cloud, rapid movement
First Known Use of rack
1590
Definition of rack
1
:a framework for holding fodder for livestock
2
:an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched
3 a (1)
:a cause of anguish or pain
(2)
:acute suffering
b
:the action of straining or wrenching
4
:a framework, stand, or grating on or in which articles are placed
5 a
:a bar with teeth on one face for gearing with a pinion or worm gear to transform rotary motion to linear motion or vice versa (as in an automobile steering mechanism)
b
:a notched bar used as a ratchet to engage with a pawl, click, or detent
6
:a pair of antlers
7
:a triangular frame used to set up the balls in a pool game;
also
:the balls as set up
—
on the rack
:under great emotional stress
Origin and Etymology of rack
Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; akin to Old English reccan to stretch, Greek oregein — more at right
Definition of rack
transitive verb
1
:to torture on the rack
2
:to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin
3 a
:to stretch or strain violently
b
:to raise (rents) oppressively
c
:to harass or oppress with high rents or extortions
4
:to work or treat (material) on a rack
5
:to work by a rack and pinion or worm so as to extend or contract
- rack a camera
6
:to seize (ropes, such as parallel ropes of a tackle) together
7
:to place (balls, such as pool balls) in a rack
intransitive verb
:to become forced out of shape or out of plumb
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racker
nounFirst Known Use of rack
15th century
Synonym Discussion of rack
afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear. afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.
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- ills that afflict the elderly
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- children often try their parents' patience
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- a horse tormented by flies
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- tortured by a sense of guilt
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- a body racked by pain
Origin and Etymology of rack
Middle English rakken, from Old French (Norman & Picard dialect) reequier, probably from Late Latin reaedificare to rebuild, repair, improve, from Latin re- + aedificare to build — more at edify
Origin and Etymology of rack
Definition of rack
:either of two gaits of a horse:
a
:pace 4b
b
:a fast showy 4-beat gait similar to the pace but in which the feet of the same side do not touch down at the same time
First Known Use of rack
1580
Definition of rack
1
:the neck and spine of a forequarter of veal, pork, or especially mutton
2
:the rib section of a lamb's forequarters used for chops or as a roast — see lamb illustration
Origin and Etymology of rack
Origin and Etymology of rack
RACK Defined for Kids
Definition of rack for Students
:a frame or stand for storing or displaying things
- a magazine rack
- a hat rack
Learn More about rack
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See words that rhyme with rack Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rack Spanish Central: Translation of rack Nglish: Translation of rack for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rack for Arabic speakers
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