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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

rule       (rōōl)  Pronunciation Key  n.   Governing power or its possession or use; authority. The duration of such power. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest. The body of regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for governing the conduct of its members. A court order limited in application to a specific case. A subordinate regulation governing a particular matter. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest. The body of regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for governing the conduct of its members. A court order limited in application to a specific case. A subordinate regulation governing a particular matter. A usual, customary, or generalized course of action or behavior: "The rule of life in the defense bar ordinarily is to go along and get along" (Scott Turow). A generalized statement that describes what is true in most or all cases: In this office, hard work is the rule, not the exception. Mathematics A standard method or procedure for solving a class of problems. Law A court order limited in application to a specific case. A subordinate regulation governing a particular matter. See ruler. Printing A thin metal strip of various widths and designs, used to print borders or lines, as between columns. v.   ruled, rul·ing, rules v.   tr. To exercise control, dominion, or direction over; govern. To dominate by powerful influence. To decide or declare authoritatively or judicially; decree. See Synonyms at decide. To mark with straight parallel lines. To mark (a straight line), as with a ruler. v.   intr. To be in total control or command; exercise supreme authority. To formulate and issue a decree or decision. To prevail at a particular level or rate: Prices ruled low. Slang To be excellent or superior: That new video game rules! Phrasal Verb(s): rule out To prevent; preclude: The snowstorm ruled out their weekly meeting. To remove from consideration; exclude: The option of starting over has been ruled out. Idiom(s): as a rule In general; for the most part: As a rule, we take the bus. [Middle English reule, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *regula, from Latin rēgula, rod, principle; see reg- in Indo-European roots.] rul'a·ble adj.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

rul·er       (rōō'lər)  Pronunciation Key  n.   One, such as a monarch or dictator, that rules or governs. A straightedged strip, as of wood or metal, for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths. Also called rule.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rule  (n.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rule  (v.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

rule
noun
1.	a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
2.	something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors" [syn: convention]
3.	prescribed guide for conduct or action
4.	(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
5.	a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works" [syn: principle]
6.	the duration of a monarch's or government's power; "during the rule of Elizabeth"
7.	dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar" [syn: dominion]
8.	directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; "he knew the rules of chess"
9.	any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; "the rule of St. Dominic"
10.	a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields" [syn: principle]
11.	(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"
12.	measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
verb
1.	exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?" [syn: govern]
2.	decide with authority; "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
3.	be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood" [syn: predominate]
4.	decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone guilty"
5.	have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
6.	mark or draw with a ruler; "rule the margins"
7.	keep in check; "rule one's temper"

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Rule, TX (town, FIPS 63752) Location: 33.18200 N, 99.89294 W
Population (1990): 783 (442 housing units)
Area: 1.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 79547

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rule

Rule\, n.

Rule of the road (Law), any of the various regulations imposed upon travelers by land or water for their mutual convenience or safety. In the United States it is a rule of the road that land travelers passing in opposite directions shall turn out each to his own right, and generally that overtaking persons or vehicles shall turn out to the left; in England the rule for vehicles (but not for pedestrians) is the opposite of this. Run \Run\, n. 1. (Piquet, Cribbage, etc.) A number of cards of the same suit in sequence; as, a run of four in hearts.

2. (Golf) (a) The movement communicated to a golf ball by running. (b) The distance a ball travels after touching the ground from a stroke.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rule

Ra"ti*o\, n. [L., fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think, judge. See Reason.]

1. (Math.) The relation which one quantity or magnitude has to another of the same kind. It is expressed by the quotient of the division of the first by the second; thus, the ratio of 3 to 6 is expressed by 3/6 or 1/2; of a to b by a/b; or (less commonly) the second is made the dividend; as, a:b = b/a.

Note: Some writers consider ratio as the quotient itself, making ratio equivalent to a number. The term ratio is also sometimes applied to the difference of two quantities as well as to their quotient, in which case the former is called arithmetical ratio, the latter, geometrical ratio. The name ratio is sometimes given to the rule of three in arithmetic. See under Rule.

2. Hence, fixed relation of number, quantity, or degree; rate; proportion; as, the ratio of representation in Congress.

Compound ratio, Duplicate ratio, Inverse ratio, etc. See under Compound, Duplicate, etc.

Ratio of a geometrical progression, the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rule

Reg"let\ (r?g"l?t), n. [F. r['e]glet, dim. of r[`e]gle a rule, L. regula. See Rule.]

1. (Arch.) A flat, narrow molding, used chiefly to separate the parts or members of compartments or panels from one another, or doubled, turned, and interlaced so as to form knots, frets, or other ornaments. See Illust. (12) of Column.

2. (Print.)A strip of wood or metal of the height of a quadrat, used for regulating the space between pages in a chase, and also for spacing out title-pages and other open matter. It is graded to different sizes, and designated by the name of the type that it matches; as, nonpareil reglet, pica reglet, and the like.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rule

Reg"u*lar\ (-l?r), a. [L. regularis, fr. regula a rule, fr. regere to guide, to rule: cf. F. r['e]gulier. See Rule.]

1. Conformed to a rule; agreeable to an established rule, law, principle, or type, or to established customary forms; normal; symmetrical; as, a regular verse in poetry; a regular piece of music; a regular verb; regular practice of law or medicine; a regular building.

2. Governed by rule or rules; steady or uniform in course, practice, or occurence; not subject to unexplained or irrational variation; returning at stated intervals; steadily pursued; orderlly; methodical; as, the regular succession of day and night; regular habits.

3. Constituted, selected, or conducted in conformity with established usages, rules, or discipline; duly authorized; permanently organized; as, a regular meeting; a regular physican; a regular nomination; regular troops.

4. Belonging to a monastic order or community; as, regular clergy, in distinction dfrom the secular clergy.

5. Thorough; complete; unmitigated; as, a regular humbug. [Colloq.]

6. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Having all the parts of the same kind alike in size and shape; as, a regular flower; a regular sea urchin.

7. (Crystallog.) Same as Isometric.

Regular polygon (Geom.), a plane polygon which is both equilateral and equiangular.

Regular polyhedron (Geom.), a polyhedron whose faces are equal regular polygons. There are five regular polyhedrons, -- the tetrahedron, the hexahedron, or cube, the octahedron, the dodecahedron, and the icosahedron.

Regular sales (Stock Exchange), sales of stock deliverable on the day after the transaction.

Regular troops, troops of a standing or permanent army; -- opposed to militia.

Syn: Normal; orderly; methodical. See Normal.