I. ˈraŋk adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ranc overbearing, strong; akin to Old Norse rakkr erect and perhaps to Old English riht right — more at right
Date: 13th century
1. : luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth
2. : offensively gross or coarse : foul
3. obsolete : grown too large
4.
a. : shockingly conspicuous
must lecture him on his rank disloyalty — David Walden
b. : outright — used as an intensive
rank beginners
5. archaic : lustful , ruttish
6. : offensive in odor or flavor ; especially : rancid
7. : putrid , festering
8. : high in amount or degree : fraught
Synonyms: see malodorous , flagrant
• rank·ly adverb
• rank·ness noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French renc, reng, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hring ring — more at ring
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : row , series
b. : a row of people
c.
(1) : a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order
(2) plural : armed forces
(3) plural : the body of enlisted personnel
d. : any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard perpendicular to the files
e. British : stand 6
2.
a. : relative standing or position
b. : a degree or position of dignity, eminence, or excellence : distinction
soon took rank as a leading attorney — J. D. Hicks
c. : high social position
the privileges of rank
d. : a grade of official standing in a hierarchy
3. : an orderly arrangement : formation
4. : an aggregate of individuals classed together — usually used in plural
5. : the order according to some statistical characteristic (as the score on a test)
6. : any of a series of classes of coal based on increasing alteration of the parent vegetable matter, increasing carbon content, and increasing fuel value
7. : the number of linearly independent rows or columns in a matrix
III. verb
Date: 1573
transitive verb
1. : to arrange in lines or in a regular formation
2. : to determine the relative position of : rate
a highly rank ed prospect
3. : to take precedence of
intransitive verb
1. : to form or move in ranks
2. : to take or have a position in relation to others
rank s first in her class