/ reɪndʒ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
VARIETY
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] range (of sth) a variety of things of a particular type :
The hotel offers a wide range of facilities.
There is a full range of activities for children.
LIMITS
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] the limits between which sth varies :
Most of the students are in the 17-20 age range.
There will be an increase in the range of 0 to 3 per cent.
It's difficult to find a house in our price range (= that we can afford) .
This was outside the range of his experience .
OF PRODUCTS
3.
[ C ] a set of products of a particular type :
our new range of hair products
—see also mid-range , top of the range
DISTANCE
4.
[ C , U ] the distance over which sth can be seen or heard :
The child was now out of her range of vision (= not near enough for her to see) .
5.
[ C , U ] the distance over which a gun or other weapon can hit things :
These missiles have a range of 300 miles.
—see also close-range , long-range , short-range
6.
[ C ] the distance that a vehicle will travel before it needs more fuel
OF MOUNTAINS
7.
[ C ] a line or group of mountains or hills :
the great mountain range of the Alps
FOR SHOOTING
8.
[ C ] an area of land where people can practise shooting or where bombs, etc. can be tested :
a shooting range
—see also driving range , rifle range
OVEN
9.
[ C ] a large piece of equipment that can burn various fuels and is kept hot all the time, used for cooking, especially in the past
10.
( NAmE ) = cooker :
Cook the meat on a low heat on top of the range.
FOR COWS
11.
the range [ sing. ] ( NAmE ) a large open area for keeping cows, etc.
—see also free-range
•
IDIOMS
- in / within range (of sth)
- out of range (of sth)
■ verb
VARY
1.
[ v ] range from A to B | range between A and B to vary between two particular amounts, sizes, etc., including others between them :
to range in size / length / price from A to B
Estimates of the damage range between $1 million and $5 million.
Accommodation ranges from tourist class to luxury hotels.
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] range (from A to B) to include a variety of different things in addition to those mentioned :
She has had a number of different jobs, ranging from chef to swimming instructor.
The conversation ranged widely (= covered a lot of different topics) .
—see also wide-ranging
ARRANGE
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] [ usually passive ] ( formal ) to arrange people or things in a particular position or order :
The delegates ranged themselves around the table.
Spectators were ranged along the whole route of the procession.
MOVE AROUND
4.
to move around an area :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
He ranges far and wide in search of inspiration for his paintings.
[ vn ]
Her eyes ranged the room.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- range yourself / sb against / with sb/sth
- range over sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense line of people or animals ): from Old French range row, rank, from rangier put in order, from rang rank. Early usage also included the notion of movement over an area .