/ ˈræʃn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a fixed amount of food, fuel, etc. that you are officially allowed to have when there is not enough for everyone to have as much as they want, for example during a war :
the weekly butter ration
2.
rations [ pl. ] a fixed amount of food given regularly to a soldier or to sb who is in a place where there is not much food available :
We're on short rations (= allowed less than usual) until fresh supplies arrive.
Once these latest rations run out, the country will again face hunger and starvation.
3.
[ sing. ] ration (of sth) an amount of sth that is thought to be normal or fair :
As part of the diet, allow yourself a small daily ration of sugar.
I've had my ration of problems for one day—you deal with it!
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] ration sb/sth (to sth) to limit the amount of sth that sb is allowed to have, especially because there is not enough of it available :
Eggs were rationed during the war.
The villagers are rationed to two litres of water a day.
—see also rationing
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent.: from French , from Latin ratio(n-) reckoning, ratio.