rank

noun

\ ˈraŋk

Definition of rank

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : relative standing or position

b : a degree or position of dignity, eminence, or excellence : distinction soon took rank as a leading attorney— J. D. Hicks

c : high social position the privileges of rank

d : a grade of official standing in a hierarchy

2 : an aggregate of individuals classed together —usually used in plural

3a : row, series

b : a row of people

c(1) : a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order

(2) ranks plural : armed forces

(3) ranks plural : the body of enlisted personnel

d : any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard perpendicular to the files

e British : stand sense 6

4 : an orderly arrangement : formation

5 : the order according to some statistical characteristic (such as the score on a test)

6 : any of a series of classes of coal based on increasing alteration of the parent vegetable matter, increasing carbon content, and increasing fuel value

7 : the number of linearly independent rows or columns in a matrix

rank

verb

ranked; ranking; ranks

Definition of rank (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to determine the relative position of : rate a highly ranked prospect

2 : to arrange in lines or in a regular formation

3 : to take precedence of

intransitive verb

1 : to take or have a position in relation to others ranks first in her class

2 : to form or move in ranks

rank

adjective

Definition of rank (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : offensive in odor or flavor especially : rancid

2a : shockingly conspicuous must lecture him on his rank disloyalty— David Walden

b : outright —used as an intensive rank beginners

3 : luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth

4 : offensively gross or coarse : foul

5 : putrid, festering

6 : high in amount or degree : fraught

7 archaic : lustful, ruttish

8 obsolete : grown too large

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Synonyms & Antonyms for rank

Synonyms: Noun

degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum

Synonyms: Verb

be, grade, place, rate, stand

Synonyms: Adjective

lush, luxuriant, prosperous, rampant, weedy

Antonyms: Adjective

sparse

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Adjective

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling. malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. malodorous fertilizers stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. prisoners were held in stinking cells the fetid odor of skunk cabbage noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. a stagnant, noisome sewer putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. the putrid smell of rotting fish rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. rank cigar smoke fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age. a fusty attic the musty odor of a damp cellar

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable. flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned. flagrant abuse of the office of president glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper. glaring errors gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits. gross carelessness rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned. rank heresy

rank

Definition of rank

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