rack

1 of 9

noun (1)

1
: a framework, stand, or grating on or in which articles are placed
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
: 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
5
: a pair of antlers
6
: bed, sack
7
: a triangular frame used to set up the balls in a pool game
also : the balls as set up
8
: a framework for holding fodder for livestock
rackful noun

rack

2 of 9

verb (1)

racked; racking; racks

transitive verb

1
: to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin
2
: to place (balls, such as pool balls) in a rack
3
a
: to stretch or strain violently
b
: to raise (rents) oppressively
c
: to harass or oppress with high rents or extortions
4
: to torture on the rack
5
: to work or treat (material) on a rack
6
: to work by a rack and pinion or worm so as to extend or contract
rack a camera
7
: to seize (ropes, such as parallel ropes of a tackle) together

intransitive verb

: to become forced out of shape or out of plumb
racker noun
rackingly adverb

rack

3 of 9

noun (2)

1
: the rib section of a lamb's forequarters used for chops or as a roast see lamb illustration
2
: the neck and spine of a forequarter of veal, pork, or especially mutton

rack

4 of 9

noun (3)

: destruction
rack and ruin

rack

5 of 9

noun (4)

: either of two gaits of a horse:
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

rack

6 of 9

verb (2)

racked; racking; racks

intransitive verb

of a horse
: to go at a rack

rack

7 of 9

noun (5)

: a wind-driven mass of high often broken clouds

rack

8 of 9

verb (3)

racked; racking; racks

intransitive verb

: to fly or scud in high wind

rack

9 of 9

verb (4)

racked; racking; racks

transitive verb

: to draw off (wine) from the lees
Phrases
on the rack
: under great emotional stress

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you rack or wrack your brain?

Wrack and rack are etymologically distinct, meaning they come from different words. Many usage guides will advise that you should use wrack for meanings such as "to utterly ruin," and rack for "to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin." If you follow this advice, the proper choice for what you do to your brain when thinking very hard is rack. However, wrack has long been used as a variant of rack, and numerous fine writers have avowedly wracked their brains or found something nerve-wracking.

Is it racked or wracked with pain?

Some guides feel that "racked with pain" is the preferable choice, although wrack is in many cases an acceptable variant. The verbs are often conflated despite their very different origins (the former from Middle Dutch rekken, meaning "to stretch," and the latter from the Middle English word for shipwreck, wrak).

"Do you rack up or wrack up debts?"

While there are a number of settings in which wrack is considered an acceptable variant of rack, the accumulation of debts is not one of them. In this context rack up typically means "to achieve, score; to accumulate."

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

ills that afflict the elderly

try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

Examples of rack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Remove cake from pan using parchment paper overhang as handles, and transfer to wire rack; let cool completely, about 1 hour. Prepare the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023 Bake on center rack in preheated oven, rotating pan halfway through, until tops are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023 Baking the muffins on a higher rack and at 400 degrees initiates a quick rise to give them nicely domed tops. America's Test Kitchen, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2023 Lay bacon slices on rack and bake at 425°F for 15 to 20 minutes or bacon is browned and crisp. Sammy Mila, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2023 The bed has been thrown about by the water, but coats remain untouched on a rack. Keir Simmons, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2023 Such dogged efforts keep TJX racks endlessly refreshed and interesting. Thomas Lee, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 Use a rack: Allows for hot air to circulate around the drumsticks, leaving no spot soggy or underdone. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023 Always unload from the bottom up in order to keep any leftover water on the top racks from falling onto the clean dishes in the lower racks. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2023
Verb
While pasta cooks, preheat broiler with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2023 Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. America's Test Kitchen, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2023 Barbie also racked in $1 billion at the worldwide box office just two weeks after its July 21 release. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2023 As the spinoff takes place in the 1970s, don’t expect to see Keanu Reeves racking a body count this time around; instead, The Continental focuses on the character of Winston Scott, the hotel proprietor played by Ian McShane in the Wick timeline and actor Colin Woodell in this prequel series. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2023 Drought, disease blamed Feb. 7, 2023 The property has come to represent hope for a state already racked by the impacts of a changing climate and the repercussions of human incursion into once-wild areas. Cari Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023 A week later, over the Fourth of July weekend, shaking chills racked her body. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 Bloomer prefers Seville’s steel wire shelving or Origami racks for everyday storage, and either Husky or Gladiator heavy-duty shelving for heavier items. Nevin Martell, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Sep. 2023 The bathroom essential, which has racked more than 41,500 five-star ratings, is made of soft chenille that measures nearly 1 inch thick. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; akin to Old English reccan to stretch, Greek oregein — more at right

Noun (2)

perhaps from rack entry 1

Noun (3)

alteration of wrack

Verb (2)

probably alteration of rock entry 1

Noun (5)

Middle English rak rain cloud, rapid movement

Verb (4)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Noun (2)

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (3)

1592, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (5)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1590, in the meaning defined above

Verb (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rack was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rack

Cite this Entry

“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rack. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

rack

1 of 4 noun
1
: a framework for holding fodder for livestock
2
: an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched
3
: a framework or stand on or in which articles are placed
hat rack
bicycle rack
4
: a bar with teeth on one side for fitting together with those of a pinion
5
: a pair of antlers

rack

2 of 4 verb
1
: to cause to suffer torture, pain, sorrow, or ruin
racked by a cough
2
: to stretch or strain violently
racked his brains for the answer
3
: to place (as pool balls) in a rack

rack

3 of 4 noun
: either of two gaits of a horse:
b
: a fast showy gait similar to the pace but in which the feet of the same side do not touch down at the same time

rack

4 of 4 noun
: a cut of meat from a lamb or pig that includes some of the rib section

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