/rang"kin/ , n.
1. William John Macquorn /meuh kwawrn"/ , 1820-70, Scottish engineer and physicist.
adj.
2. Thermodynam. pertaining to an absolute temperature scale (Rankine scale) in which the degree intervals are equal to those of the Fahrenheit scale and in which 0° Rankine equals -459.7° Fahrenheit. Cf. absolute temperature scale, Kelvin (defs. 2, 3).