rack

rack
rack1
noun
1》 a framework for holding or storing things.
    ↘a vertically barred holder for animal fodder.
2》 a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something.
3》 (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting of a frame on which the victim was tied by the wrists and ankles and stretched.
4》 N. Amer. informal a bed.
5》 a triangular frame for positioning pool balls.
    ↘a single game of pool.
6》 N. Amer. a set of deer's antlers.
7》 a digital effects unit for a guitar or other instrument.
verb
1》 (also wrack) cause extreme pain or distress to.
    ↘archaic oppress (a tenant) by exacting excessive rent.
    ↘historical torture on the rack.
2》 place in or on a rack.
3》 (rack something up) accumulate or achieve something.
Phrases
rack (or wrack) one's brains make a great mental effort.
Origin
ME: from MDu. rec, Mid. Low Ger. rek 'a rail or shelf', prob. from recken 'to stretch, reach'.
Usage
The relationship between the forms rack and wrack is complicated. The most common noun sense of rack ‘a framework for holding and storing things’ is always spelled rack, never wrack. The verb senses that derive from the type of torture in which someone is stretched on a rack can, however, be spelled either rack or wrack: you can be racked with guilt or wracked with guilt; you rack your brains or wrack your brains. In addition, the phrase rack and ruin can also be spelled wrack and ruin.
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rack2
noun a horse's gait between a trot and a canter.
verb
1》 (of a horse) move with such a gait.
2》
rack off Austral. informal go away.
Origin
C16: of unknown origin.
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rack3
noun a joint of meat, especially lamb, including the front ribs.
Origin
C16: of unknown origin.
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rack4
(also wrack)
noun (in phr. go to rack and ruin) gradually deteriorate due to neglect.
Origin
OE wræc 'vengeance, destruction', related to wreak; cf. wrack4.
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rack5
verb draw off (wine, beer, etc.) from the sediment in the barrel.
Origin
C15: from Provençal arracar, from raca 'stems and husks of grapes, dregs'.
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rack6
noun variant spelling of wrack3.
verb archaic (of a cloud) be driven before the wind.
Origin
ME (denoting a rush or collision): prob. of Scand. origin.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , / , , , , , / (of mutton), , (from sediment) / , , , , , (by exaction), / , , / , / ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • rack — rack …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Rack — Rack, n. [Probably fr. D. rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to stretch, Dan. r[ae]kke, Sw. r[ a]cka, Icel. rekja to spread out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. ore gein.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rack — may refer to: People * Rack (Buffyverse) * Reinhard Rack, an Austrian politician Kinds of racks * Rack (torture device) * Rack (billiards) * 19 inch rack, a system for mounting electronic modules * Amp rack, short for amplifier rack, a piece of… …   Wikipedia

  • rack — [ rak ] n. m. • 1954; mot angl. « râtelier; étagère » ♦ Anglic. Électron. Tiroir destiné à recevoir des sous ensembles électroniques qui doivent être montés dans une baie (2., 2o). ● rack nom masculin (anglais rack, râtelier) Meuble de rangement… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • rack — rack1 [rak] n. [ME racke < LowG rack < IE * rek , to project, bar > ROCK2] 1. a framework, grating, case, stand, etc. for holding or displaying various things [clothes rack, dish rack, pipe rack, bomb rack]: often used in combination:… …   English World dictionary

  • Rack — (r[a^]k), v. t. 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster] He was racked and miserably… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rack — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Rack (desambiguación). Fotografía de un Rack. Un rack es un bastidor destinado a alojar equipamiento electrónico, informático y de comunicaciones. Sus medidas están …   Wikipedia Español

  • Rack — 〈[ ræ̣k] n. 15〉 Regal, Gestell (bes. für Stereoanlagen) [engl.] * * * Rack [rɛk , engl.: ræk], das; s, s [engl. rack = Regal, Gestell]: regalartiges Gestell zur Unterbringung von Elementen einer Stereoanlage. * * * I Rack   das, s/ s …   Universal-Lexikon

  • rack — Ⅰ. rack [1] ► NOUN 1) a framework for holding or storing things. 2) a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something. 3) (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting… …   English terms dictionary

  • Rack — Rack, n. [See {Wreck}.] A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.] [1913 Webster] {Rack and ruin}, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] {To go to rack}, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] All goes to rack. Pepys. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rack — [ræk] verb rack up something to succeed in getting a large amount of something, especially profits, sales, or debts: • His last movie managed to rack up $75 million at the box office. • Somehow he managed to rack up debts of £80,000 …   Financial and business terms

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