rule
a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.
the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation: the Franciscan rule.
the customary or normal circumstance, occurrence, manner, practice, quality, etc.: the rule rather than the exception.
control, government, or dominion: under the rule of a dictator.
tenure or conduct of reign or office: during the rule of George III.
a prescribed mathematical method for performing a calculation or solving a problem.
Rule, Astronomy. the constellation Norma.
Printing. a thin, type-high strip of metal, for printing a solid or decorative line or lines.
Law.
a formal order or direction made by a court, as for governing the procedure of the court (general rule ) or for sending the case before a referee (special rule ).
a legal principle.
a court order in a particular case.
rules, Penology. (formerly)
a fixed area in the neighborhood of certain prisons within which certain prisoners were allowed to live.
the freedom of such an area.
Obsolete. behavior.
to mark with lines, especially parallel straight lines, with the aid of aruler or the like: to rule paper.
to mark out or form (a line) by this method: to rule lines on paper.
to be superior or preeminent in (a specific field or group); dominate by superiority; hold sway over: For centuries, England ruled the seas.
to exercise dominating power or influence; predominate.
to exercise authority, dominion, or sovereignty.
to make a formal decision or ruling, as on a point at law.
to be prevalent or current: Higher prices ruled throughout France.
Idioms about rule
rule the roost. roost (def. 7).
Origin of rule
1synonym study For rule
Other words for rule
Other words from rule
- in·ter·rule, verb (used with object), in·ter·ruled, in·ter·rul·ing.
- self-rule, noun
- subrule, noun
- un·der·rule, noun
- un·der·rule, verb, un·der·ruled, un·der·rul·ing.
- un·ruled, adjective
- well-ruled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use rule in a sentence
From beneath a well-ruled eyebrow Pe-lung continued to observe him closely.
Kai Lung's Golden Hours | Ernest BramahAnd this Sir Gareth was a noble knight, and a well ruled, and fair languaged.
Stories of King Arthur and His Knights | U. Waldo CutlerHe stared as the parties continued their wordy justification of this well-ruled household like one dreaming with his eyes open.
The Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's Lawsuit | Richard HarrisThe only well-ruled line that he can follow is the customary prompting of his own instinct.
Sally Bishop | E. Temple ThurstonAnd this Sir Gareth was a noble knight, and a well-ruled, and fair-languaged.
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume I (of II) | Thomas Malory
British Dictionary definitions for rule
/ (ruːl) /
an authoritative regulation or direction concerning method or procedure, as for a court of law, legislative body, game, or other human institution or activity: judges' rules; play according to the rules
the exercise of governmental authority or control: the rule of Caesar
the period of time in which a monarch or government has power: his rule lasted 100 days
a customary form or procedure; regular course of action: he made a morning swim his rule
the rule the common order of things; normal condition: violence was the rule rather than the exception
a prescribed method or procedure for solving a mathematical problem, or one constituting part of a computer program, usually expressed in an appropriate formalism
a formal expression of a grammatical regularity in a linguistic description of a language
any of various devices with a straight edge for guiding or measuring; ruler: a carpenter's rule
a printed or drawn character in the form of a long thin line
another name for dash 1 (def. 13) en rule; em rule
a strip of brass or other metal used to print such a line
Christianity a systematic body of prescriptions defining the way of life to be followed by members of a religious order
law an order by a court or judge
as a rule normally or ordinarily
to exercise governing or controlling authority over (a people, political unit, individual, etc): he ruled for 20 years; his passion for her ruled his life
(when tr, often takes a clause as object) to decide authoritatively; decree: the chairman ruled against the proposal
(tr) to mark with straight parallel lines or make one straight line, as with a ruler: to rule a margin
(tr) to restrain or control: to rule one's temper
(intr) to be customary or prevalent: chaos rules in this school
(intr) to be pre-eminent or superior: football rules in the field of sport
(tr) astrology (of a planet) to have a strong affinity with certain human attributes, activities, etc, associated with (one or sometimes two signs of the zodiac): Mars rules Aries
rule the roost or rule the roast to be pre-eminent; be in charge
Origin of rule
1Derived forms of rule
- rulable, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with rule
In addition to the idioms beginning with rule
- rule of thumb
- rule out
- rule the roost
also see:
- as a rule
- exception proves the rule
- ground rules
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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