rank

Everyday

1. A position in a group or list, higher or lower than others: She is first in rank. tree →
2. An official level in the army, police or another group: the rank of captain. tree →
3. (verb) To put things in order by size, score or importance, or to have a place in such an order: Rank the numbers from smallest to largest. tree →
4. A row or line of people or things: a taxi rank, ranks of soldiers. tree →
5. (adjective, informal) Very smelly or nasty: «That bin is rank!» (UK slang). tree →
6. (adjective) Complete or total: a rank beginner. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons pupils rank numbers, scores and heights in order — «rank from least to greatest». In sport, players and teams are ranked. In stories about armies, soldiers break ranks or close ranks. In UK playground slang «rank» means gross. Phrases: «rank in order», «top-ranked», «taxi rank», «break ranks», «close ranks», «rank and file», «pull rank».

Examples

• Rank the children from shortest to tallest. tree →
• She ranks third in the school chess club. tree →
• The soldier was promoted to the rank of sergeant. tree →
• We waited at the taxi rank. tree →
• (slang) Ew, these old socks are rank! tree →
• He is a rank beginner at tennis. tree →
• Rank 45, 12, 78 and 30 from largest to smallest. tree →
• The team is ranked number one in the country. tree →
• "The law is there for people of high rank, too," said Holberg. tree →

Note

Regular verb: ranked. Noun «ranking» (a list in order). In ranking problems check if the order is ascending (smallest first) or descending (largest first). The slang «rank» (gross) is informal; fine with friends.

In Jewish tradition

In Kings, the windows were set in three ranks, meaning rows. In Isaiah and Job, a man of rank is an important or honoured person, listed beside the captain and the counsellor.

Interpretation. Joseph reads the full ears as seven good years, followed by seven lean years of famine. Tradition sees this as a sign of his God-given wisdom. Isaiah's list of leaders is read as warning that God can take away a nation's honoured people.

Examples

• And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. (Torah GEN.41.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. (Torah GEN.41.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And there were beams in three rows; and light was over against light in three ranks. (Prophets 1KI.7.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it, (Writings JOB.22.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• The captain of fifty, and the man of rank, and the counsellor, and the cunning charmer, and the skilful enchanter. (Prophets ISA.3.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: ranked. Noun «ranking» (a list in order). In ranking problems check if the order is ascending (smallest first) or descending (largest first). The slang «rank» (gross) is informal; fine with friends.