| 1. | classification according to grade or rank. |
| 2. | assigned position in a particular class or grade, or relative standing, as of a ship or a member of the armed forces. |
| 3. | the credit standing of a person or firm. |
| 4. | Radio, Television. a percentage indicating the number of listeners to or viewers of a specific program. |
| 5. | a designated operating limit for a machine, apparatus, etc., as of voltage, load, or frequency, based on specified conditions. |
| 6. | an amount fixed as a rate. |
| 7. | British. apportioning of a tax. |
| 8. | Chiefly British. one of the enlisted personnel in the British navy. |
noun, verb, rat⋅ed, rat⋅ing.| 1. | the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans. |
| 2. | a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure: at the rate of 60 miles an hour. |
| 3. | a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound. |
| 4. | price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings. |
| 5. | degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate. |
| 6. | degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output. |
| 7. | relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort. |
| 8. | assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating. |
| 9. | Insurance. the premium charge per unit of insurance. |
| 10. | a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation. |
| 11. | a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate. |
| 12. | a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay. |
| 13. | Horology. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period. |
| 14. | Usually, rates. British.
|
| 15. | to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance. |
| 16. | to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around. |
| 17. | to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment. |
| 18. | to value for purposes of taxation or the like. |
| 19. | to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax. |
| 20. | to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to. |
| 21. | to be considered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period. |
| 22. | to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate. |
| 23. | to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition. |
| 24. | to have position in a certain class. |
| 25. | to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class. |
| 26. | at any rate,
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rate 1 (rāt) n.
v. tr.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, proportion, short for Latin (prō) ratā (parte), (according to a) fixed (part), from feminine ablative past participle of rērī, to consider, reckon; see ar- in Indo-European roots.] |
Rating
1. An evaluation of a corporate or municipal bond's relative safety from an investment standpoint. Basically, it scrutinizes the issuer's ability to repay principal and make interest payments.
2. An analyst's recommendation on whether to buy, sell, or hold a specific stock.
Investopedia Commentary
Bonds are rated by various organizations such as S&P and Moody's. Ratings range from AAA or Aaa (the highest) to C or D, which represents a company that has already defaulted.
Related Links
Stock Ratings: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Target Prices Vs Ratings
Why There Are Few Sell Ratings On Wall Street
See also: Bond Rating, Default Risk, Rating Service
rating
rate 1 (rāt)
n.
A quantity measured with respect to another measured quantity.
A measure of a part with respect to a whole; a proportion.