ration
Use Ration in a sentence
ən, ˈreɪ noun
1.
a fixed allowance of provisions or food, especially for soldiers or sailors or for civilians during a shortage: a daily ration of meat and bread.
2.
an allotted amount: They finally saved up enough gas rations for the trip.
3.
rations.
a.
provisions: Enough rations were brought along to feed all the marchers.
b.
Chiefly South Atlantic States. food or meals: The old hotel still has the best rations in town.
verb (used with object)
4.
to supply, apportion, or distribute as rations (often followed by out ): to ration out food to an army.
5.
to supply or provide with rations: to ration an army with food.
6.
to restrict the consumption of (a commodity, food, etc.): to ration meat during war.
7.
to restrict the consumption of (a consumer): The civilian population was rationed while the war lasted.
00:10
Ration
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To ration
Collins
World English Dictionary
ration (ˈræʃən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. a fixed allowance of food, provisions, etc, esp a statutory one for civilians in time of scarcity or soldiers in time of war: a tea ration |
| b. (as modifier): a ration book | |
| 2. | a sufficient or adequate amount: you've had your ration of television for today |
| —vb | |
| 3. | ( |
| 4. | to restrict the distribution or consumption of (a commodity) by (people): the government has rationed sugar; sugar is short, so I'll have to ration you |
| [C18: via French from Latin ratiō calculation; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ration
1550, "reasoning," later, "relation of one number to another" (1666), then "fixed allowance of food" (1702, often rations, from Fr. ration), from L. rationem (nom. ratio) "reckoning, calculation, proportion" (see ratio). The verb meaning "put (someone) on a fixed allowance"
is recorded from 1859; sense of "apportion in fixed amounts" is from 1870. The military pronunciation (rhymes with fashion) took over from the preferred civilian pronunciation (rhymes with nation) during World War I. Rationing is from 1918, from conditions in England during the war.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
If governments desire people to use less energy, they have to ration supply by price.
The status quo: ration health care by not letting everyone have it.
The answer to your question is: a ration of humility.
In years past my ration has been about four interviews to one or two offers.
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