First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1rank
adjective \ˈraŋk\
: having a strong, unpleasant smell
: very bad and obvious
: complete or total
Full Definition of RANK
1
: luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth
2
: offensively gross or coarse : foul
3
obsolete : grown too large
4
a : shockingly conspicuous <must lecture him on his rank disloyalty — David Walden> b : outright —used as an intensive <rank beginners>
6
: offensive in odor or flavor; especially : rancid
See rank defined for English-language learners
See rank defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of RANK
Middle English, from Old English ranc overbearing, strong; akin to Old Norse rakkr erect and perhaps to Old English riht right — more at right
Synonym Discussion of RANK
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>.
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>.
Other Botany Terms
2rank
noun
: a position in a society, organization, group, etc.
: a high position in a society, organization, group, etc.
ranks : the people or things that belong to a particular organization or group
Full Definition of RANK
1
a : row, series b : a row of people c (1) : a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order (2) plural : armed forces (3) 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 6
2
a : 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
3
: an orderly arrangement : formation
4
: an aggregate of individuals classed together —usually used in plural
5
: the order according to some statistical characteristic (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
See rank defined for English-language learners
Origin of RANK
Middle English, from Anglo-French renc, reng, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hring ring — more at ring
First Known Use: 14th century
3rank
verb
: to place (someone or something) in a particular position among a group of people or things that are being judged according to quality, ability, size, etc.
: to have a particular position in a group of people or things that are being judged according to quality, ability, size, etc.
: to arrange (people or things) in a line or row
Full Definition of RANK
transitive verb
1
: to arrange in lines or in a regular formation
2
: to determine the relative position of : rate <a highly ranked prospect>
3
: to take precedence of
intransitive verb
1
: to form or move in ranks
2
: to take or have a position in relation to others <ranks first in her class>
See rank defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RANK
1573
RANKLY Defined for Kids
1rank
noun \ˈraŋk\
Definition of RANK for Kids
2
: a line of soldiers standing side by side
3
ranks plural : the body of enlisted persons in an army
4
: position within a group <Who is highest in rank in this office?>
5
: high social position
6
: official grade or position <the rank of major>
2rank
adjective
Definition of RANK for Kids
1
: strong and active in growth <rank weeds>
2
: 2outright 1 <rank dishonesty>
3
: having an unpleasant smell <The room was rank with smoke.>
3rank
verb
rankedrank·ing
Definition of RANK for Kids
1
: to take or have a certain position in a group <He ranks near the top of the class.>
2
: to arrange in a classification
3
: to arrange in lines or in a formation
Learn More About RANK
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: rank and filePrevious Word in the Dictionary: ranitidineAll Words Near: rank
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up rank? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).