Link Centre Dictionary

rule

UK/ɹuːl/ US/ɹʉwl/ common slang
noun (12) verb (7)

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”
Synonyms
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”
Synonyms
3.
4.

(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice

Synonyms
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”
Synonyms
6.

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”
Synonyms
7.

the duration of a monarch''s or government''s power

  • “during the rule of Elizabeth”
8.

dominance or power through legal authority

  • “France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa”
  • “the rule of Caesar”
Synonyms
9.

directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted

  • “he knew the rules of chess”
10.

any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order

  • “the rule of St. Dominic”
11.

(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems

  • “he determined the upper bound with Descartes”
  • “;”
Synonyms
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

Synonyms

verb

1.

exercise authority over; as of nations

  • “Who is governing the country now?”
Synonyms
2.

decide with authority

  • “The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed”
Synonyms
3.

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

  • “Money reigns supreme here”
  • “Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood”
Synonyms
4.

decide on and make a declaration about

  • “find someone guilty”
Synonyms
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”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English reule, rewle, rule, borrowed from Old French riule, reule, from Latin regula (“straight stick, bar, ruler, pattern”), from regō (“to keep straight, direct, govern, rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti (“to straighten; right”), from the root *h₃reǵ-; see regent. Doublet of rail, regal, regula, and rigol.

Phrases

  • adhere [⇒ thesaurus] to
  • Appendix:Roget MICRA thesaurus/Class I § 82. Conformity
  • Appendix:Roget MICRA thesaurus/Class V § 613. Habit
  • comply with
  • policy maker
  • rule maker
  • rule of thumb

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

Parts

Related verbs

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.