I. ˈrant, -aa(ə)nt, -aint verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: obsolete Dutch ranten, randen
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to have a noisy good time with dancing, singing, and drinking : carouse , revel
2. : to talk noisily, excitedly, often extravagantly : declaim in bombastic fashion
rant and rave in loud voices — Priscilla Hughes
3. : to scold vehemently : be in a rage : rail
ranted at the boy who paid no attention
transitive verb
: to speak in an extravagant grandiose fashion : declaim noisily
the actor who rants Shakespeare — H.E.Clurman
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : ostentatious speech or utterance : discourse that is often wildly excessive and unrestrained
going to yell out the customary rant which he kept for big occasions — Bruce Marshall
the depth of feeling without rant — Walter Hampden
b. : extravagant often flowery language or sentiment usually empty of meaning
sometimes mere rant , the book has genuine depths — Edgar Johnson
2. dialect Britain
a. : a rousing good time : spree
b. : a gay song or dance tune
3. : the act of ranting : a ranting state
Synonyms: see bombast