rate

Everyday

1. A rate tells how much of one thing goes with one unit of another, like miles in each hour or dollars for each hour of work. tree →
2. A rate is how fast something happens: the rate of growth, a heart rate. tree →
3. A rate is a price or charge: the hourly rate, the rate for a room. tree →
4. To rate is to judge how good something is: «I rate it 4 stars». tree →
5. «At any rate» means anyway. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a rate of speed, pay, work, flow or price per unit; the key to multiply or divide; «per», «each», «an hour», «a minute»; «at this rate». In science: heart rate, rate of melting or growing. In everyday life: star ratings, rates of pay. In stories: «at this rate we'll never get there!»

Examples

• He works at a rate of $12 per hour. tree →
• The tap fills at a rate of 5 liters a minute. tree →
• At this rate, how far will she go in 4 hours? tree →
• She types at a rate of 40 words a minute. tree →
• Your heart rate goes up when you run. tree →
• The plant grew at a rate of 1 cm a week. tree →
• I rate this book five stars. tree →
• Babysitters charge an hourly rate. tree →
• At any rate, we tried our best. tree →
• "I've got him now, at any rate," thought he. tree →

Note

Marks a per-unit amount: total = rate × time (or count), and rate = total ÷ time. Trap: «at this rate» means keep the same rate for a new time; match units (minutes vs hours: 60 minutes = 1 hour). «First-rate» means excellent; «second-rate» means not very good.

In Jewish tradition

In these verses it means a fixed amount paid year by year.

Interpretation. The visitors brought Solomon gifts every year. The tradition reads this as a sign of his wealth and fame.

Examples

• And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. (Writings 2CH.9.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. (Prophets 1KI.10.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Marks a per-unit amount: total = rate × time (or count), and rate = total ÷ time. Trap: «at this rate» means keep the same rate for a new time; match units (minutes vs hours: 60 minutes = 1 hour). «First-rate» means excellent; «second-rate» means not very good.